As people, we’re generally pretty resistant to change. Change is scary because that means we need to leave our comfort zones, and there’s no way to tell what’s on the other side. So why risk losing everything you have for an unknown?

Well, because sometimes what you have is a coping mechanism that is no longer working. That coping mechanism then makes you tired, irritable, and overall unhappy. When we aren’t living our truth, the Universe will send us signs to put us back on the right path. Unfortunately, most of us miss these signs because we’re either not paying attention, or we don’t want to see them.

However, one thing that is certain is that the Universe will send you signs regardless of how you feel about change. And the more resistant we are, the louder the signs get.

That said, here are four signs that the Universe will send when it’s time for you to make a change.

1. Your emotions are all over the place

If you go from being happy to sad to angry and then depressed, there is a high chance that you’re not suffering from some medical condition (although not true in all cases) but that you’re unhappy with your life. It can be difficult to admit when we’re unhappy because we don’t want to hurt others, and we don’t want to face the fact that maybe we made a poor decision. However, it’s never too late to live your truth. If your emotions are all over the place, take a step back and try to figure out what it is that is triggering these emotions. We snap off on those we love for some reason, and it’s generally not the reason we think.

2. Your old ways are crumbling

When your old ways are no longer serving you, the structure starts to crumble. No matter how hard you try, the pieces won’t fit, and you find yourself treading water trying to maintain a crumbling foundation. This sign can come in many forms depending on your situation. If you’re a drinker, you may find yourself becoming more sick than usual, or developing allergies to certain drinks. If food is your kryptonite, you may start to notice that your body cannot handle the types of comfort food you’ve been feeding it. Maybe you love social media and your internet won’t connect. Whenever your daily routine is interrupted, or things that normally work are no longer working, it’s the Universe telling you that it’s time to address the way you’re choosing to live.

3. You’re losing friends or lovers

More often than not, the Universe will remove people who are no longer serving you. Sometimes these friends or loved ones can leave on their own and other times you initiate the breakup. Either way, the Universe has found that it’s time for you to move from external support to internal discovery. You may get a little lonely for a few months, but in the end, you will learn more about yourself and who you want in your life.  These friends or lovers may have only had their best interest in mind, and weren’t helping you move forward on your path. The Universe will recognize that and then send them on their way. Too often, though, we try to preserve these relationships instead of listening to the Universe. So if they are removing people from your life, take a few minutes to try and understand the true effect those people have on your well-being.

4. Your Timing is off

You’re finding yourself late to appointments. You just miss the show you wanted to watch. You left early but still somehow caught every red light and then found yourself in traffic. These are all signs telling you that maybe what you’re doing is no longer working, or necessary. Maybe that show is not good for your soul. Maybe your car breaks down right before you go to an appointment because you have the answer within you. These are all speculations, but when your timing is off, it’s because something is off within you. So when you notice that your timing is wonky, try to pay attention to what you’re doing when these instances happen. Usually our timing is off when we’re trying to force unncessary actions to happen.

I know that change is scary, but it’s also inevitable. And, sometimes, our external world needs to crumble so that we can build a better life that is more suitable for us rather than trying to live the life that everyone else wants us to have. So the next time you are driving to see your ex, someone who you know is not good for you, and you get rear-ended, take that as a hint from the Universe. They are trying to help you live your best life, but they can only do so much. After all, as humans, we do have free will. The Universe is here to guide us. All you need to do is limit your distractions and listen to what they are trying to tell you. You’ll be much happier if you allow the change to happen, I promise.