A “Cosmic 2X4” is a phrase used to describe a personal crisis; a situation that arises in life and hits us over the head, stopping us in our tracks unexpectedly and causing us to shift gears.

I have just recently experienced this (again) in my life.

A massive blow.

HUGE.

Boy did it knock me.

I did not see it coming at all and never would have imagined it in a million years.

I felt (as one normally does when this occurs) in no way, shape or form prepared for what was going to happen. To say I was overwhelmed and shocked would be a severe understatement of the highest degree.

I am always intrigued, baffled and perplexed by these cosmic 2X4’s.  I have spoken to various people for many years now about their occurrences and they way they show up in our lives and knock us for six. In fact it is when people are going through a cosmic 2X4 that they connect with me for a healing or coaching session so I can help them navigate the ‘knock’ physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It’s what I do.

Of all the people I have personally worked with that have been through this “forced gearshift” the majority of them have shared with me that upon reflection they would not change a thing as it was these major life challenges that essentially lead them on a path of intense inner healing and self discovery.  This is definitely not truth for everyone. However my ‘awesome’ (and I am bias) clients whom I speak about worked extremely hard to regain a state of balance and harmony within themselves and amongst this become deeply devoted to a journey of healing the mind, body and spirit.

Whether their cosmic 2X4 appeared in their lives as cancer, jail, drug overdose, divorce, illness, death of a beloved, addiction, loss, car accident or bankruptcy when I asked them if they would go back to before the swing of the cosmic 2X4 hit the majority replied “NO!” Simply because the lessons they learnt along the way were too valuable to their lives now.

An elderly gentleman client (one of my favourites in his mid 70’s) was telling me his horrific life story.

I asked him the question “If you had a choice would you want to go back to before all the trauma, illness, loss and hardship occurred in your life?”

He thought for a while, smiles at me and replied, “Kate, once you understand the lessons, you respect the teachers and the pain melts away”.

I thought to myself (whilst tears were pouring down my face), he is a very wise man.

From my own personal experience I too have to agree. Although in the midst of it; the turbulence, the chaos and the pain it does not always feel like you are receiving valuable, precious life-altering lessons in that moment, often it is quite the opposite.

However what I have learnt, experienced and been reminded of recently is this;

If you see the cosmic 2X4 for what they really are; a chance to grow, to align with your truth, to clear out your past that no longer serves and move into your own sense of power and love within yourself then it is easier to ride those waves when they come crashing.

• Looking for the hidden messages during the navigation process does help.
• Finding a smidgen of positivity or even a glimmer or light on the darkest days does help.
• Being able to still smile at the smallest little things does help.
• And putting all your faith in the knowingness that whatever you are experiencing at the time, no matter how painful, hard and challenging it is serves a higher purpose for your own growth and soul lessons does help.

What I have been reminded of in the past couple of weeks whilst navigating my own cosmic 2X4 is that it’s the small things that make a big difference in our lives.

Being able to put one foot in front of the other, to get up each day and face whatever is happening in front of you with an open mind and open heart is what matters.

That’s bravery.

That’s courage.

And that my friends is how you get through these blows when they come knocking on your door.

“It takes courage…to endure the sharp pains of self discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives.”

― Marianne Williamson