Leadership Thought #211 – The End Of One Thing is Just The Beginning Of Something Else
Everything in your life will inevitably come to an end at some point. Sometimes, it is our choice; other times, it is not. Nothing lasts forever. This can be a challenging concept to accept, especially when you are in the middle of something important, special, or significant.
When change occurs, it can be hard to accept. Some changes, such as physical aging, kids growing up and moving on, people close to you passing away, and the waning of work careers, are inevitable. Others can catch you off guard and leave you emotionally broken, dazed, and confused: the end of marriages and close relationships, abrupt changes in work status, unforeseen personal tragedies, and drastic health issues. I’ve seen many people struggle mightily when things don’t turn out as expected. In especially sad cases, I’ve known others who have given up or never fully recovered from the drama of handling core life changes.
When you are at the end of something, it’s hard to focus on the fact that there is now a new beginning. After some time to cope and mourn what was, you now must reinvent yourself to meet whatever new reality you will be navigating. There is no turning back, no matter how hard you try. The good news is that human beings are amazingly resilient. We are hardwired to survive and move forward. The only change that is finite is our own mortality; otherwise, we have no choice but to accept, adapt, and live with the consequences of what has happened.
I’ve always believed in the duality principle of existence. Few things are entirely good or entirely bad. There is a positive aspect to most adverse situations if you pay close enough attention and remain open to the possibility. I know it’s hard, but don’t get stuck in “what was,” instead transition your energy into “what is and could be.”
To quote Joseph Campbell, “Our life evokes our character, and you find out more about yourself as you go on…” and to end with a lyric from George Harrison, “all things must pass, all things must pass away…” Embrace your new reality, whatever it may mean.
Related articles
- Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning’s End (philosiblog.com)
- An Ending Is Just Another Beginning (exploringyourmind.com)
- Follow Your Bliss (soaringwithgod.com)
- Letting Things Pass (otheresteem.org)
- When You Are at the Darkest Point in the Forest, You Are on the Right Track. (elephantjournal.com)
