New beginning or painful ending?
“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings”. Lao Tzu
This quote is quite poignant for me. I have a choice to focus on the end of my 16- plus year banking career or I can focus on the fresh start this now gives me.
A fresh start to do an assessment of my life to date, a look ahead to what I want it to look like in 5, 10, 20 years and the legacy I can build that will outlive me. What an incredible gift this is!
Does it always feel like a gift? I wish. Many times, it feels like a pipe dream that could easily go up in smokes. It feels like leaving the ‘job security’ behind and taking on a huge risk. It feels scary, daunting, and challenging.
So, what can I do to make sure I focus on the right things and have the right mindset that helps me to see the positives and the opportunities?
I must take my past learning, experiences and skills and repackage this to work for me in my new beginning.
I need to identify my fears, face and overcome them, making a choice to look forward only and not be distracted or held back by my past. I must focus my gaze on my new beginning and remind myself daily of this quote.
I will find people who can speak into any areas of insecurity that I have and not be afraid to be vulnerable. That’s the only way they will know I need help and for me to get the support that will help me achieve my goals.
Finally, I must become a life-long learner. There are people that have walked this path before and I can learn from them though reading books, blogs, and articles about them. There are fearless entrepreneurs who have had to restart their businesses many times and have built resilience through it all.
These are the things I will start with.
I know I am not the only one in this weird and wonderful place called, ‘new beginning’. What do you see? Do you see ‘a new beginning’ or ‘a painful ending?’
Your new beginning might be a new job or business but are you still so hung up on the old that you’re not maximising the new?
What will you do this week that will help you to focus on your new beginning and not on your painful ending? They are opposite sides of the same coin.
I would love to hear about your ideas.
Thank you for stopping by. See you next week. Please share this post with others.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Folake
Insightful and thought-provoking as always, Yemi…
Folake (opinion Forum)
Yemi Adelekan
Thank you.
Yahaya Titilayo
Motivational and lnspiring YEMI. Lol.
Yemi Adelekan
Thanks Titi. Thanks for reading
Afolabi Tiamiyu
Carving out a new beginning for myself on an endeavor .
It’s not been easy , but totally shutting doors to old ways have left me with no options than to proceed with the new .
Not leaving the option of going back has helped so far
Yemi Adelekan
That’s fantastic Afolabi. Burning our bridges is one sure way to forge ahead.
Yemi Adelekan
I wish you all the very best
Niyi (Opinion Forum)
Hi Yemi,
Nice one …it would also help if one had a network of trusted friends (whom you have invested in, in the past) and who can be pillar of support, at such moment of change.
Change is difficult and scary like you wrote.
Cheers!
Yemi Adelekan
Hi Niyi. That’s a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Rose Akerejola
Nice piece Yemi. Very motivational and thought provoking.
Yemi Adelekan
Thanks Rose. Really appreciate your comment.
Natasha Wyer
As always Yemi….. A word in season. Thank you again! New beginnings are definitely disguised as painful endings, depending on what the circumstances are, we tend to hang onto the old, out of fear of the unknown. As the saying goes… Better the devil you know, but I do believe if God is leading us to new pastures ….it’s because he has something bigger for us. The word my Pastor got from God for this year was Isaiah 43:19. Behold I am doing a new thing…Lets walk in faith, with the leading of the Holy Spirit to the new things God is doing in our lives x
Yemi Adelekan
That’s so inspiring Natasha. Definitely two sides to a coin but we must choose the good side for us.
Yewande Bayode
Beautiful piece of words and very insightful.
New beginning usually come with so much uncertainties and doubts, maybe because no one knows what tomorrow holds or the fear of unknown or inability to take risk.
Although, if one is able to face these fears and worries with constant re-assurance, good support network, focus and determination to break through the barriers; the true realities of the new beginning will begin to manifest.
Yemi Adelekan
Thanks for your comments. Knowing who holds tomorrow helps.
Joyce
This is just what I needed to hear as I am currently facing the end of my 12 year job season and looking expectantly at another one. I really like what you said about repackaging my skills & experience to work for me in my new role. Thank you so much
Yemi Adelekan
Thank you so much Joyce. I’m glad you found it useful. I also struggled when I first decided to leave my job after the option to leave presented itself. Focus on what’s ahead of you.
Yetunde
Powerful. I need to do my homework and think about what I need to do as I start ‘a new beginning’.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Yemi Adelekan
Thanks for your comment. Praying for wisdom
Olusegun Bayode
By nature, people are generally apprehensive of living their comfort zone for a new zone. The reason is simple – fear of the unknown. How well are we ready to take on new challenges. Amazingly we experience this apprehension in our lives daily. You are used to a particular road when going to office and any reason to change that route brings discomfort. You change dept in an organisation but you see yourself still gravitating towards the old dept. It will take a conscious and deliberate effort to draw the curtain between the “old ending” and “new beginning”.
If only we can begin to control these daily experiences, then we can have the grace to handle bigger decisions.
Yemi Adelekan
That’s is so true. I know the driving same route feeling. Sometimes I intentionally push myself to change my route. Thanks for your comment
Folashade Olaniyi
Thanks very much, so inspiring.
Yemi Adelekan
Thank you for reading. I’m glad you found it inspiring.
Henry B
Beautiful and Inspiring. Thank you Yemi, this is a great insight.
Yemi Adelekan
Thanks for reading it Henry. Appreciate your comments.
Olabisi
This is where I am. Leaving the security of my job for a new venture. Rightly said, it’s scary but exciting, as we catch a tiny glimpse of the life of Abraham. Leaving the known fir the unknown.
Thanks for giving a better way to look at it.
God bless you.
Yemi Adelekan
Thanks. Indeed we keep our eyes on the side that sees this as an incredible opportunity