End. Begin. Continue.

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Excited about the new year? Many people are. People are ‘pumped’ with starting something new  and fresh that would changed their lives. Gym subscriptions begin rising, new diets are intended, changes in looks, and the list goes on and on. Generally the excitement of the new year lasts just a few days. The routine takes over and we completely forget about new year’s resolutions. The fact is that changes and getting used to changes won’t happen in a day, or a week. It is said that it takes a minimum of 21 days to develop a habit. What we forget is that there are no new beginnings without endings and that the line between the two is not as thin as it looks. There is a period of transitioning from ending to beginning.

William Bridges explains in his book Transitions – Making Sense of Life’s Changes how to understand change in order to cope with it. Life is a continuum full of endings and beginnings and are often the transitions that are the most difficult times to endure. We leave behind experiences, people, things, practices, habits, and thoughts to move on into new ones but it doesn’t happen magically at midnight like in a fairy tale. Changes take time and we humans don’t like that. We want things to happen right away, don’t we?

What if you decide to make changes happen instead of waiting for them to just happen? Visualize the ideal you. Be wise in doing this. Don’t visualize yourself in comparison with someone else. Be realistic. The ancient Greeks defined ‘sin’ as ‘missing the mark’. If you go too high, too low, or to the sides you are missing the mark. Can you see it? Now, consider what needs to be done in order to achieve that visualization. What does it take to get there?

Educate yourself. Listen to the experience of others. Weight their points of view in light of your context and needs. Follow what fits your vision. Try new things within your means. Some risks and leaving the comfort zone are necessary. Stop doing what is not working for you. Keep doing what is working so far. End. Begin. Continue. Results take time. Enjoy each achievement. Most importantly, love what you do. Life is incomplete until you are complete. Life is only complete when you are not. Is the transition that matters and makes a continuous change in you.

Comments (2)

  1. Roopa Dudley

    I really needed this post. It is realistic and encouraging and that is exactly what I wanted to hear. Now I feel confident and full of much needed inspiration.

    2014 was a wonderful year for me and I did not want it to end. I accomplished all the lofty goals and then some and that spoiled me completely. I am naturally an anxious person so saying good-bye to 2014 was tough as the certainty of 2015 came to pass. I have indeed made a few goals for this year. Keeping a positive outlook and firm resolve no matter what life throws my way is one of my major goals (and the hardest one). Honoring my close friends by making a special painting just for them for their birthdays is one of my minor goals (and the easiest one). I am result oriented so making goals and accomplishing them has always been a part of my life. 2015 is going to be a huge decision making year as I find myself on the cross-roads once again.

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