A change is as good as a rest, they say. But how may of us are truly open to change I wonder? Even if we know that change will be for the better, it can sometimes seem like too big a step for us to take.

For instance, I came to the computer just now and automatically tuned into Radio Rivendell (all beautiful fantasy music.) It failed to connect, so I thought, "Fine. Let's go to Stellar Attraction instead." (Wonderful progressive music – I love that!) However, that also failed to connect. Some searching on the Internet produced another lovely radio station called Sky FM, which plays new age music. Lovely soft sounds, just perfect for working to. And if I hadn't lost the connection with the other stations, I would never have discovered it. I wouldn't have bothered to change. Just carried on in the usual way. And I'm really enjoying the new music now. So you see, it pays to change occasionally!

The thought of change can be scary when we want a big new thing to happen in our lives. Sometimes we think we want something, but the fear of the change that actually achieving that something will bring is too much for us. So we 'sabotage' our hopes and dreams and put blocks in our way, which wouldn't otherwise be there.

And fear is a strange thing. We can fear success sometimes, as much as we can fear failure. Perhaps there will be many things to 'live up to' if we are successful. Perhaps we're too attached to something to really let it go and replace it with something new. Sometimes it takes a big shove to put us on the road to our dreams and sometimes it's just one little thing that can motivate us to move forwards.

And sometimes the hopes and dreams we are trying to realise are not even our own, but are the hopes and dreams of another. It never ceases to amaze me how many people tell me that they want to do something, and then when I ask why, they say, "Because my Mother/Sister/friend/whoever thinks I should."

So if you have hopes and dreams still unfulfilled, first of all ask yourself "Is this dream really mine?" Don't go on feeling like you've failed at something when it's something you never really wanted to do in the first place. And if you find that your dreams are truly yours, and that they are truly what you want, then ask yourself "What am I afraid of?" "What do I fear most?" And "Am I really open to change?" Listen to your heart and you will receive the answers I'm sure.

A new affirmation came my way recently and instead of the usual phrasing of "This thing is coming to me now," it read, "I am ready to receive…" That's something I'm going to try. Being 'ready to receive' puts us in a much more powerful position and affirms our willingness and readiness to receive our dreams whatever they may be. Why not give it a try yourself? You could be surprised by the results.

Happy dreaming!