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- That’s it. You’ve had it. Life is not going as well as you’d like. The world has been throwing you curve balls for way too long. Are you ready for a Fresh Start in your personal or business life? You are not alone. But how do you know where to begin? Especially if you’re still neck-deep in a life or a business you want to change. Just the thought of it can cause anxiety, right?
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step” ~Martin Luther King Jr.
Ask yourself these five questions before you start your quest:
1. What Are You Looking For?
At times, what we think is a change or fresh start in our lives is simply a ‘fancier’ version of our old life. If we want to change our lives, we need to avoid falling into this trap and start looking for real change. Here are some (sub) questions that go hand-in-hand with question #1 above:
a) What do you want out of life?
b) What is preventing you from getting it?
c) What do you need to do to get there?
d) What’s one positive change that you can make now that would put you closer to the change you are desiring?
2. How Many Risks Are You Willing to Take?
Fresh starts demand a certain amount of commitment from you, which will be related to how much of yourself you’re willing to put into your fresh start. If you’re not willing to risk a new way of life, or if you fear or are resistant to change, you’re not going to have much success.
3. What is Different About the Life You’re Proposing
If you’re looking for a new beginning and a fresh start, there has to be something ‘new,’ or you’re not starting over at all. You are merely continuing what you’ve been doing all along. What is the thing you haven’t done before?
“Nothing in the Universe can stop you from letting go and starting over”
~Guy Finley
4. What Are You Giving Up?
A new beginning means something else is ending. What are you leaving behind? Keep in mind this question does not mean you need to abandon EVERY aspect of your past, only those things that you have ‘outgrown’ or that are no longer working for you. Many times this is only a small part of our life.
5. Are You Ready to Let Go of the Past?
This last question can be hard because you might not know the answer until you’ve begun. Every fresh start is doomed to failure if you’re weighed down with a lot of baggage from the past. At the very least, though, it helps to have a positive attitude about letting go and are willing to do the work to make this happen.
Depending on the weight of your “baggage”, you may decide that you need some professional help (therapy) to clear your mind and have the ability to let go of the past.
Our friends at Tiny Buddah wrote an in-depth blog about starting over. If you get a chance, take a look.
Once you are clear on your vision, make a decision to go for it (and not look back). Even though the path you choose means cutting yourself off from your former path, you can always course-correct later on if things don’t feel right. YOU are in CHARGE!
~Decision comes from the Latin word decisio, which means “to cut off”
In the end, these questions will give you some idea of what to expect as you embark on this journey of letting go. After all, being prepared truly is half the battle.
It’s never too late to build the life you want…on your own terms.
If issues in your life are stopping you from leading a full life, reach out to a professional for help. There are people who can and will help you sort through it all.
To your continued growth, peace, and fulfillment.