On Starting Over…

Photo by Bankim Desai

Life is a wild ride, filled with unexpected detours and crossroads that prompt us to contemplate the daunting prospect of starting over. Whether spurred by personal decisions, external circumstances, or a blend of both, mastering the art of starting over is a vital skill. New beginnings can offer a transformation power, or even a sexy resilience required to navigate change. The opportunities that emerge when we boldly step into the unknown can take us to places we could have never dreamed.

One of the most formidable challenges in starting over is the necessity to let go. Whether departing from a long-term relationship, altering careers, or relocating to a new place, releasing the familiar can be a poignant process. However, it is in this act of surrender that we find the space for personal evolution. Letting go is not a sign of weakness but a demonstration of strength and a commitment to ourselves.

Photo by Milan Popovic

This commitment can bring forth our resilience. Resiliency does not mean to be tough or hardened to the challenges that needed change might bring forth. It can be more of a dance, a zig and zag. A point of stop and rest; and even surrender. Resilience is not always steadfast, but something that is in motion in uncertainty. The capacity to adapt and persevere is a fundamental component of embarking on a new chapter.

Even in the most tumultuous moments, when change is not expected, working through it can bring us to a place to rediscover our core selves. Amidst the hustle and flow of daily life, it's easy to lose sight of our truest identity. To begin again encourages introspection, self-discovery, and the chance to realign with our values, passions, and purpose. It invites us to find new facets of our personalities, throw away what is no longer working for us and redefine what success or fulfillment means to us now.

“Best laid plans…” is a saying that is often expressed when we must move in a different direction. In indigenous cultures, time is often represented as cyclical not linear. So maybe starting over isn’t really a shift from something that is lost, but a continuation of something else that got lost along the way at another point in time.

Written By Tanisha Christie, LCSW (she/her)