“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
Alexander Graham Bell
I have heard many stories from people about losing a job, or ending a relationship. Sometimes you have no choice but to let go of some piece of your life. It may feel like the end of the world.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama said, “The only thing that’s the end of the world is the end of the world.”
There is no change without loss. And life is a series of changes. How do you close a door when it wasn’t your idea to leave that space to begin with?
Change often involves going through the stages of grief on some level. Go through, don’t stay there.
If you’re looking backward, you’re not looking forward.
I am not minimizing the pain of loss, or the associated fear. But often, because we have no choice, we find ourselves in a new and better situation.
What you want to do is make the transition from loss, through grief, maybe fear, to looking ahead to taking action. And you might find:
A better relationship for you
Losing your relationship may be a complete shock, or maybe you knew something was wrong for a while. It may still be terribly hard. If a relationship ends, and you want another one in your life, you have to start meeting people.
A job that’s a better fit.
If you lose a job due to cut backs, you know you’ll have to find another way to generate income. There may be people you’ve grown close to at work, or something about the work itself you’ll miss. Or, you think you’ll miss.
A better place to live.
Most people don’t like moving. If you are dreading it, remember you are moving to somewhere as well as from somewhere. And whatever your situation you can only pack one box at a time.
Maybe you’re letting go of a particular creative project. Or a creative mode or medium. You might find:
A new creative outlet to explore.
When faced with change, look for inspirational stories. People who could have fallen down and stayed down, but found that if they looked up, they could get up.
Look in a different direction. Climb up higher to view more of the landscape. You never know what you might see.
