Sunday, August 10, 2025

The Truth About Endings

Life is a constant flow of beginnings and endings, yet many of us try to hold onto what’s familiar—even when it no longer serves us. An “old door” closing can feel like a loss, whether it’s a relationship, a job, or a personal dream. But these endings are not punishments—they are transitions, making space for new opportunities and experiences to enter your life.

Just as a room cannot be filled if it’s already crowded, your future cannot fully unfold while you’re gripping the past.

Why It Hurts—And Why That’s Okay

The quote reminds us that pain is natural. Change often stirs fear, nostalgia, and uncertainty. But there’s a difference between honoring your feelings and letting them chain you to a closed chapter. Staying “stuck” on what fell apart keeps your focus behind you, blinding you to the doors that have already cracked open ahead.

Grieving what’s gone is healthy; clinging to it is not.

The Link Between Letting Go and Growth

Transformation doesn’t happen by simply adding more to your life—it happens when you release what no longer supports your growth. Sometimes that means stepping away from comfort, even if it feels like walking into the unknown.

When we let go of what’s broken, outdated, or misaligned, we create space for something better—something that fits the person we are becoming, not just the person we once were.

Four Practical Ways to Step Through the Next Door

1. Recognize the Closure
   Stop trying to pry open what life has already shut. Acceptance is the first step to moving forward.

2. Give Yourself Space to Grieve
   Acknowledge your feelings without letting them define your future.

3. Shift Focus to Possibility
   Ask: “What new opportunities could this ending be making room for?”

4. Act on Your Next Step
   Waiting until all fear is gone means you’ll never move. Small, brave steps create momentum.

A Timeless Lesson

While the exact origin of this quote is unknown, it reflects a sentiment that has echoed through centuries. Alexander Graham Bell once said: “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.” The message is timeless: life is an unfolding journey, and moving forward means keeping your eyes on what’s ahead, not behind.

Resources to Help You Embrace Change & Let Go

Books

• Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes – William Bridges

• The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself – Michael A. Singer

• Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender – David R. Hawkins

• Who Moved My Cheese? – Spencer Johnson

Articles & Guides

• The Art of Letting Go – Psychology Today

• How to Accept Change in Your Life – Mindful.org

• The Science of Resilience and Adaptation – Greater Good Magazine

Podcasts

• The Life Coach School Podcast – Episodes on change and thought work

• The Minimalists Podcast – Letting go of what no longer serves you

• Unlocking Us with Brené Brown – Conversations on vulnerability and growth

Videos / Talks

• TED Talk – The Art of Letting Go by The Minimalists

• TED Talk – The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage by Susan David

• Jay Shetty – Turning Endings into New Beginnings

Exercises & Practices

• Journaling prompts: “What am I holding onto that’s holding me back?”

• Mindfulness meditation for releasing attachment (Insight Timer or Headspace)

• Gratitude practice: Write three things daily that this change has made possible

Final Thought:
Every ending is a seed for a beginning. The question isn’t whether the door closed—it’s whether you’re willing to walk toward the one that’s opening.