You can’t escape it. One day, your grocery receipt totals up to exactly $21.21, and the next, you’re driving to work and catch 2121 in someone’s license plate. Suddenly, it feels like this random sequence of numbers is following you. You pause your favorite show to grab a snack, only to find that there are 21 minutes and 21 seconds left in it. Then you catch the time on your friend’s phone (the one who’s insistent on keeping it set to military time for some reason) and there it is, 21:21. It might just start to feel like the universe is trying to tell you something…because it is. You’re being confronted with an angel number.

If you’re not familiar, angel numbers are messages from a higher power—be that a guardian angel, the universe, one of your spirit guides, or just your intuition. That’s why when you start noticing one everywhere, you should take it seriously. And by that, I mean you should try to decode what the universe is trying to communicate in the here and now. Is it gentle reassurance that you’re heading in the right direction, or a signal that you should change your path?

There are several ways to look at it. Taken as a whole, 2121 indicates a message of self-reflection and perseverance, according to Deciphering Angel Numbers by April Wall. If you’ve been engaged in a period of self-reflection, keep it up, because you’re headed towards a breakthrough. If you haven’t been self-reflecting, well, now is the time to start.

You can also look at 2121 as two repeating 21s, which carry a message of patience, acceptance, and laughter, according to Wall. You might be working towards a particular goal or hoping for a particular thing to happen, but this number is a reminder that it takes hard work and patience to get to where you want to go. Keep at it—and remember that the journey should be fun, too.

Alternatively, you can look at 2121 as two 2s, holding a message of balance and decision-making, and two 1s, carrying a meaning of independence and bravery. Taken together, this number can remind you to be considerate of when you need to work with others and when you need to work alone.

Finally, 2121 can be reduced to 2+1+2+1=6. In numerology, 6 indicates peace, service, and family. If you’ve been going through a tough time, this number is an indication that brighter days are ahead.

In love, angel number 2121 can be seen as a reminder to find a balance between the time and energy you’re dedicating to your relationship and the energy you’re focusing on your own self-development. Don’t let your individuality disappear into your relationship; instead, find a balance that works for you.

If you’ve been going through a rough patch with a partner, this number can also be a reassurance that you’re nearing the end of the rocky period, whether it’s external (like reuniting after a period of long-distance) or internal (like making up after an argument).

In a twin flame journey, the number 2121 indicates that you and your twin flame will soon meet—or if you’ve already met and been separated, you may soon reunite. This number is a message to continue on the path you are on so you and your twin flame can grow separately as individuals before coming together as one.

If you’ve been working hard towards a promotion or a raise, searching for a new job, or launching your own business, angel number 2121 is a message that all your hard work will soon pay off. Keep up the hard work, because results are coming soon! This number can also be seen as a reminder that you need to have some work-life balance. Don’t burn yourself out by putting all your energy into a workplace that doesn’t give you anything back.

If you keep seeing angel number 2121, know that your angels, spirit guides, and/or the universe (however you see it) is sending you an important message. Consider the areas of your life in which you’re working towards a goal, and the areas in which you might need to find more balance. Then, get to work!