Change. Change. Change. Turning Endings into New Beginnings
Every end is also a beginning…
Q: What’s one of the best times for figuring out who you are and what you truly want?
A: Right after a chapter of your life comes to an end.
Just like changes of the seasons, we are constantly evolving and growing – becoming better or bitter by these changes that occur in our lives. The choice is ultimately ours.
The fact is every chapter in life comes to an end at some time. It’s important to acknowledge and accept this – to walk forward and carry on adaptively when something has reached its conclusion, whether forced or chosen.
Closing the door, turning the page, moving on, etc., it doesn’t matter what you call it. What matters is that you leave the past in the past so you can make the best of the life that’s still available to be lived. This ending you’ve experienced is not ‘the end’ of your life, it’s your life beginning in a new way. It’s a point in your story where one chapter transitions into the next. This isn’t always easy, particularly when grieving is involved. Grieving is a natural and necessary step of your onward journey.
Below I have listed some ideas that may help.
The world of Josie Thomson is changing too – big time!
There are a number of exciting new developments that I’d love to share and/or continue to share with you. As part of these changes, I’m keen to ensure you receive only those offerings that are most valuable and useful to you. You can help me.
That’s why next week you will receive another email from me requesting your help. So that you continue to receive only those offerings I have that are of most value and usefulness to you, I will ask for 1 minute of your time to confirm your preferences. In return for your assistance and continuing support, I will gift you an exclusive offer that I know you will love. So I hope you will join me by jumping on board and continue to grow and enjoy this crazy wild ride called ‘life’ with me.
For now, here are some ideas to support and encourage you in embracing and commencing a new chapter with strength, conviction, and grace:
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- When life doesn’t go to plan, breathe and remember that life’s richness and greatest gifts often come from its unpredictability.
- Sometimes you have to accept the fact that things will never go back to how they used to be, and that this ending is also a new beginning – a fresh start.
- One of the most peaceful mindsets begins the moment you finally find the courage to let go of what you can’t change. To be able to assert and accept: it is what it is. Accept it, learn from it and move forward. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or what happened; what matters is what you choose to do and who you choose to become.
- The secret to moving ahead is to focus your energy not on fixing or fighting yesterday, but on creating and growing something new right now. Instead of focusing on resisting and rebelling against what you don’t want, give your focus and attention to what you do want, facing forward in life.
- Even if you have good reason to be angry and resentful about what happened, don’t. Acknowledge the pain and the hurt, and then channel your precious energy towards thoughts and actions that actually benefit your life today. (If you need some help with this one, reach out to me. I have a very powerful ‘freedom’ technique as part of my coaching services).
- Your world can be an entirely different place than the world you lived in just a few moments ago, once your attitude toward it changes. Remember: where focus goes, energy flows.
- The situation does not determine your response. YOU determine your response. You are not defined by what happened to you: you are defined by how you respond. Take a moment now to pause and remember who you truly are. Take time to reflect on the things that have real and lasting meaning in your life. (Knowing your values helps you make precise and confident decisions in life. If you would like a hand in defining your values, reach out and ask for a Values coaching session with me or one of my team).
- Life doesn’t owe you anything. You already have everything you need. But you do owe it to yourself (and our Creator) to make the best of the life you have been gifted – come what may. (If you haven’t already read it, my Enliven-U book is a wonderful resource for encouraging and reminding you how to embrace your life on your terms.)
- Don’t procrastinate. Don’t waste your time wishing for a ‘better’ starting point. Instead, make use of the real and present starting point you have, set your focus and get going. Habits can be tough to shift, but shift they can. With the right focus, repetition and positive re-enforcement massive change and transformation is possible.
(Check out my You Are Not Your Brain on demand webinar series with Dr Jeffrey M Schwartz). - Be humble. Be teachable. The world is bigger than your view of it. There’s always room for a new idea, a new step… a new beginning. You may need to step back, waaaay back to widen the lens on your current perspective. Seek to improve rather than prove your position.
Reflections
From my own experiences, the secret to a good life is to pay more attention to the beginnings than the endings. So many people say they want a new life, but then they take the new one they get for granted. Don’t do this to yourself. Don’t hold on to what’s no longer there. Don’t wait until your life is almost over to realise how priceless this present moment really is. The good life is here – it begins right now, when you stop wanting a different one.
And remember, there are a few little words that can release you from your past struggles and guide you forward. These words are: “I’m in the process of…”
Your turn…
Please leave a comment below and let me know which tips above resonate the most with you. Do you have any other ideas, quotes, tips or stories to share about turning an ending into a new beginning? I would love to hear from YOU.
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Until next time, may your joys be many, may your ‘endings’ be swift and graceful, and may your beginnings help you see the unique gift you truly are in this world.
With love,
Events Coming Up in Brisbane:
As proud Ambassador for Childhood Cancer Support, I invite you to please come join me on Monday, 19th September for our annual Talk Like A Pirate Day fund raiser event. You will be supporting the invaluable services CCS provides to families with children receiving treatment for cancer in Brisbane, or you can make a tax-deductible donation at ccs.org.au.
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Give the gift of a peaceful mind.
P.S
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Thank you for sharing your wonderful insights. Sending you love. xx
You’re welcome Lisa. Thank you too.
You presented to Logan City Council staff in a Leadership Live breakfast. I will never forget you and your messages. I teach myself from your posts and I share with my family and colleagues. Forever thank you Josie … bless you.
Thank you so much for your kind words Lee. Very much appreciated.
I have lately been lamenting the ending of cycles as the generation ahead of me sadly are passing away and things from my childhood slip away (like my childhood home). The timing of your message seems more than coincidental.
All of your tips resonate with me, but particularly tip 10 as I have been on a journey this year of stepping waaaaay back to see and understand fully the context of the choices that have led to my current position in life. Thank you for giving me my new mantra – “Seek to improve rather than prove your position”. This sums it all up for me.
The passing of loved ones is never an easy time. The depth of grieving is usually a sign of the depth of love. Be gentle, kind and patient with yourself. Sending you courage, love and grace for your journey forward.
Josie,
Support 3,5,7 & 9 ideas. However rather than waiting for change to occur I think it is better to fine tune our skills so that we can see when a major change is about to occur & can therefore put in place strategies to respond to this sooner rather than waiting for the last minute. Future proofing one’s future so to speak.
I think we put enormous pressure on ourselves. Irrespective of our income our living expenses take up the majority of it so none to very little is put away for a rainy day. So we a financially, emotionally ill-prepared when change occurs.
So how do we build up resilience, future proof our lives & put in place a financial plan that can accommodate what life throws at us.
I agree Josie be prepared to make the hard decisions. Accept the period of mourning over the change but ideally have an exciting plan B developed & ready to go & Plan C in the pocket when change occurs.
Agree one has to be adaptable, humble & open to learning new things.
Like you Josie i am at a major Turning Point in my life. I wish I had been more prepared. I have been in the anguishing phase. I had been at the very early stages of putting plan B in place when circumstances have pulled the wool from under me so a I start to see a little light at the end of the tunnel..
My advice:
You may well respond to the situation at a death & go through the various phases of grief.
2. Develop an action plan including seeking advice from experts, mentors, friends & family as appropriate.
3. Back your own judgement & implement your action plan systematically.
4. Be courageous & feel that sense of relief at you gain a little more control of your life.
5. Be kind to yourself. No matter what those voices in your head tell you, know that you have tried to do the right thing by your family.
6. Take time out to be one with Nature.
7. Take time out to have fun stress-free times with your loved ones.
8. It’s easy to think the world would be a better place without you… but you are wrong, the people left never stop wondering why. Their futures are changed forever. People who you never thought cared care.
9. Celebrate with your loved ones that you put your plan into place.. & know you taught your kids an important life lesson.
10. Increase your fitness level with pilates, yoga, walking, weights As this is a great stress relief. Oh & take up something creative – painting, writing, jewellery making, wood work.
Daniele, thank you for your contribution here. Very helpful tips indeed. You are certainly taking proactive steps to enable yourself as you step through the phase of change in your life. I acknowledge and commend you. Preparation for change is ideal, but not always possible. Having a plan B and C for future-proofing is also handy, baring in mind that things change and therefore those plans may equally need to be reviewed. Resilience is definitely vital in navigating life’s adversities – something I’ve had ample experience building, and your tips above go a long way in helping build resilience capability. Thank you and very best wishes for your path.
Josie — I saved several quotes from your writings — here is my very favorite one – “The world is bigger than your view of it.” Thank you
That’s great Mindy.
Dear lovely Josie,
Thank you for sharing your 10 tips, they all resonate with me with 2 being the strongest!
Looking forward to your changes too! Onwards and upwards 🙂
Thanks Maria. Yes, change is a big theme in many lives right now and I wish you well on your path. Indeed, onwards and upwards. I look forward to connecting again upon your safe return.
Josie, I timely message as I think of finishing with an organisation after many years and look to a new future.
Best wishes to you Darren as you navigate your path forward. May courage, clarity and calm be your guides.
Dear Josie,
I have heard you twice in Brisbane within Goodstart Early Learning. You inspire me.
These 10 points of reflection is what I needed. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, with all my heart. I believe that when our cry is sincere, the universe sends you the right responses, at the right time…yours was my response today. Full of gratitude for what you do, money cannot equate your services to mankind. Thank you again. Sincerely, Radha Narasimhan.
Thank you for your kind words Radha. We are all in this together.
Hi Josie your message today was something I needed to hear love, hugs and thanks
Glad it was useful for you Carole.