New Beginnings; out with the old and in with the new.
Where to begin?
There are two things that I knew that I wanted to write about first, when I was setting up my website. Things that seem like they should be on opposite ends of the scale and somehow are right next to each other like next door neighbours. Endings and Beginnings. Sometimes thought of as a linear thing; start, middle, end. But circles are a far better description to understand this process in life I think. A line just doesn’t cut it. Lion King, anyone?
As we enter into something new, we can be reminded of everything that we leave behind to do so. Like a snake shedding its skin, it’s all there to look back on. It can be really hard moving forward because we can often think back to what we might miss, or cling to a sense of security in the comfortable or the familiar. It’s all a part of you, still there, acting as the foundation for whatever comes next.
Nothing stays the same and that can bring sadness. I know there are some of you who try to resist when things do change, but change can bring great things too. Embracing that fact is hard at times, especially when the future is uncertain and more risk than usual is involved.
Maybe we didn’t want things to change at all and wish things were the way they used to be. There’s a heavy grief that comes with that way of thinking. But we have to try to move forward. Why? Well, you tell me... what could go right for you if you do? What are you hoping will happen?
You might learn more about yourself and take your life to new places and that may bring with it new opportunities and experiences. Maybe you will achieve what you set out to do or end up somewhere you didn’t expect. Find out where your choices are going to take you.
Below are some things that I have found helpful, they may be useful for you too but remember, you are your own expert, learn as much about yourself as you can, we are all different and are in different situations.
Remember:
- It is normal to feel grief, sadness and doubt even when something is happening that you are looking forward to.
- The balance of acknowledging the past, looking forward to the future and grounding yourself in the present can be a tricky old thing to balance can’t it? Nobody is perfect.
- Try your best to catch yourself when you are feeling overwhelmed or overthinking things, where is your head at? This could be a good time to take a step back and try some grounding techniques, make time for some healthy distractions or talk to someone about how you are feeling.
- Nothing really comes without risk attached to it in some way. It is unavoidable, we can't be comfortable 100% of the time.
- Think about the pros and cons of your situation, be as realistic as you can, we can get ahead of ourselves, excited by what we hope for (that's part of the fun) but make space to think about what you are setting out to do and acknowledge some of the roadblocks that might be in your way, think about how you could navigate these.
- Remind yourself that you can do this! Self belief is half the battle, you have to back yourself! You are not a robot, it’s okay to be nervous.
- If you are lucky to be in the position where you get to try something, have the means to do so, don’t hold yourself back, consider giving it a go (as long as it doesn’t harm you or anyone else!).
Need more inspiration?
If you need some extra encouragement, here are some great books and films that may leave you feeling inspired.
- Self help book: The Mountain is You: Transforming Self Sabotage into Self Mastery by Brianna Weist
- Fiction book: Sweet Sorrow By David Nicholls
- Children's book: The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfied Martin
- Film: Hector and The Search for Happiness
- Shop: You can also check out my shop for some journals or thought notepads and affirmation cards that might help you on your way. Visit the Store
Get in touch or comment below if you have any book, film or song recommendations for this kind of thing too.