The main reasons why people start over include: relationships, where they live, job change, illness, losses, failures, and new interests.
Whether it was the pandemic, politics, or personal situations, most of us have felt disruptions over the last few years and for some of us the need to start over, to begin again.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines “starting over” as “to begin to do something again, sometimes in a different way.” In a different way is the key factor of this definition.
Life happens that makes us re-think our habits and assumptions in a different way. We stand between the way we were accustomed to living and a new way of thinking, feeling and being.
Beginning again requires letting go, which is one of life’s hardest practices, but also creates space for new options, possibilities, and the next chapter in our lives. Clinging to what no longer serves us, burdens us.
Instead of making resolutions, which most of us aren’t all that great at keeping, why not look for some areas in your life where you’d like to begin anew? Here are some tools to make starting over a little easier.
- Get to know yourself. Reflect on your past experiences as a scientist. Revisit your values. Ask yourself, “Who are you now?” We aren’t the same people that we were at 17, 27, 57, or 67. We are constantly evolving. Our personalities change due to major life events. Use adversity as a chance to grow.
- Start small. Stay consistent. Your values will help you identify your Write a list of things you want to accomplish. Writing them down makes your goals visible. Let yourself dream, think about things and directions you want to work toward. Break things down into small behavioral changes rather than big leaps of action.
- Be Curious. The desire to seek new knowledge plays a fundamental role throughout life. Curiosity fosters continued intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth. Curiosity is a willingness to ask questions, explore, to try new or unfamiliar experiences. Curiosity is driven by interest and the joy of discovery.
- Trust Yourself. The good news is that you have already done a lot of hard work that goes into trusting yourself like being self-aware, learning from past experiences, understanding your values, and setting reasonable goals. The ability to trust yourself grows when you can be rooted in the present, when you give yourself time to think things through, when you talk to people you trust about your situation, and most importantly when you can give yourself some compassion.
Everyone has the power to change their life. It won’t be easy or comfortable, and you might not be sure you can do it, but it is possible.
It’s never too late “To Begin Again.”
Reflection: Where am I considering beginning again?
Today’s Practice: Take one small step toward beginning something important to you.