Freedom Blog

Friday, April 13, 2012

Ending Cycles

No Limits | The Freedom Blog


Ending Cycles

Written by Steven Griggs | stevengriggs.com

Do you feel stuck? Whether in a project, a job, a relationship, or some other situation, there is a time for perseverance, and a time for letting go and moving on.”
 Jonathan Lockwood Huie

“There's a trick to the Graceful Exit. It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, a relationship is over - and to let go. It means leaving what's over without denying its value.”
Ellen Goodman

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
Lao Tzu
   
I used to have a hard time with endings. I got very sad because I didn’t want things to change. I resisted because I found security in the consistency, the sameness.  This stems from my childhood which at times was a bit uncertain..... 

But later in my life I came to realize that this is the normal way of things. Every rhythm we are engaged in will eventually change or come to an end. Things run out of energy.

Most of us have had a pet that we raised and cared for in our lives. Then one day that pet dies. One day they’re here and poof, the next day they’re gone.  

Another example is relationships. We’ve all had friends that we’ve “outgrown”. It’s not that we stopped caring or loving them, it’s that the relationship became stale. It became more of a habit than anything. So you drifted apart and now really have nothing to say when you see each other.

Things must end. It’s hard to accept when you’re young but as you get older and experience more loss you come to realize that endings and death are a huge part of this life experience.

We need endings to have beginnings.

I have come to accept that life is made up of never ending cycles. Some are longer, some are shorter. But we are each on our own journey and being on a journey means things are always changing.  So try to look forward to the next chapter, the next phase or adventure. Make room for the new.

Yes, you can be sad for a moment, but don’t look at it as anything final or permanent. Think of it as more like a cleansing, a shedding of an old skin. And be thankful for the experience.

Who knows, that friend may show up again in your life and you can have an entirely new and great relationship with them.

Or you may find a new puppy or kitten to love and they will bring a new joy into your life.

So try to watch your own rhythms and look at your relationships and engagements in a more fluid way, more like an observer watching your life as it happens.  Recognize that when things run out of energy or no longer work it’s time to move on.

Be grateful you are here on this planet having these experiences. Recognize that change is a key part of this journey.  Next!