Full Stop, and Begin Again

I have always loved beginnings. Every new beginning is like a candy shop. There are so many options, and they all look deliciously good. Often, the excitement of a new beginning and the openness to opportunity only arrive after you have said goodbye to something or someone.

When you move to a new place, you say goodbye to another. When you start a new career or a new job, you say goodbye to the work you leave behind, to your colleagues, to the atmosphere you knew. When you take on a new lifestyle, you say goodbye to the routine you were used to, or to the little rituals you had. When you begin a new relationship, you say goodbye to another one. In essence, beginnings come with a mix of emotions that is hard to hold. Whatever the reason for the new beginning, losing that sense of familiarity can bring sadness, uncertainty, chaos and fear.

If turning back is not an option, then how do you settle into a new beginning more gently?

The answer is simple. Just close your eyes and imagine yourself holding both the beginning and the ending in your arms, at the same time. By acknowledging and accepting what has been, you release the old energy and make room for the gifts of the new beginning.

How do you move through a time of transition in your life?

Stay open. You may not feel ready for something new, but when it is time, it is time. Let go of the need to hold on to your past or to control your future. Simply stay open and let things settle.

Notice, consciously, what is changing inside you and around you. Beginnings and endings are not always easy. Notice the shifts in your relationships and in your work. You may notice changes in how your colleagues behave, or in how you behave. You may have trouble sleeping, or lose your appetite. It is enough to notice consciously and to admit honestly what is happening to you.

Give yourself mental space for the new energy. Do not try to handle what is new in the style of what is old. Be curious and ask questions. It is okay not to know how to go about it. Allow yourself to learn how new things are done, with joy and enthusiasm.

Stay with your emotions and accept what you feel. It is natural to miss what has been, or to feel uncomfortable with change. Talk about how you feel. Write about it. Tell a friend. All these emotions and the energy surrounding your beginnings and endings are real. What matters is that we integrate them as different chapters, but still part of the book of the life we live now.

Take a break. Even if it seems strange to start something new with a pause, give yourself time to rest, physically and mentally. Spend time outdoors. Connect with nature.

Honour the endings. Offer respect for the lessons you have learned, and love for the memories that were sweet and precious.

Prepare your beginnings. Let your body rest and your mind dream. Write down your intentions and start working on planning and organising your new beginning.

Coming back to the candy shop, beginnings, like sweets, can leave a taste that is sweet, bitter, or bittersweet. But just like the child who dives into all that sugary wonder without a thought for what might follow, so it is for us when we stand at the start of a new chapter. You have no idea how things will unfold, and you do not know what comes next. Nobody truly does. What matters is that you know who you are right now. Be authentic and honest with yourself, and everything will turn out better than you imagined.