How to properly start a new chapter in your life
Miguel Guinard • Feb 19, 2020
The way you close a chapter will affect the beginning of the new one.
Life offers many opportunities to turn the page and start fresh. Some times these opportunities are planned while others come as a surprise. Being able to distinguish between the two has puzzled many through the ages. Surprises can be good or bad, just like plans. One thing is for sure: You will always learn something new.
In my life, I've seen my fair share of opportunities. Many of them required a leap of faith without knowing where the next step is going to land. Here are some of my leaps of faith:
- Moving to a different country with a different language.
- Taking a sales job when I am naturally introverted.
- Leaving the comfort of a steady paycheck to start a new business.
Every time I embark on a new adventure, I can't help but reflect on the past to see the trajectory of my life. As I look back to the many forks on the road, I noticed that I closed some chapters properly and some not. One of the biggest lessons I've learned rides on the following statement: The way you close a chapter in your life will affect the beginning of the new one.
Circumstances will always affect the way a season in life will end, but if you think beyond what's on the surface, you will have a chance to leave the door open when you move on. Your life is more significant than any particular situation, and your reputation is always on the line. If you are not careful about how you react, every connection related to the circumstance will be affected as well.
"To err is human, to forgive, divine." Alexander Pope
We must remember that no one is perfect. But imperfection doesn't give us a license not to care.
In matters of the heart, leaving a door open is difficult because it usually means a heartbreak. But in business and social dynamics, the following three principles on how to leave properly applies:
1. Don't let anger get the best of you.
Whatever the reason, fair or unfair, you invested time and effort in building relationships. Don't let anger get the best of you. Friendship with colleagues will often lead to other opportunities. Jobs come and go, but the ever reaching webs of your network don't have to stop growing. The way you exit is a reflection of what's going on in your heart.
"For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34b
2. Give assistance and support during the transition.
If you see a door opening with another employer that will significantly benefit you, or the entrepreneurial spirit takes over you, giving the necessary transition time and assistance to your current employer will ensure that the chapter closes smoothly. The people around you will be witnesses of your professionalism and concern beyond yourself.
Do you remember the golden rule? "Treat others the way you want to be treated."
3. Be thankful for the experience.
When you leave your current situation, even if the new adventure takes you in a completely different path, the experience has shaped the way you are. Every experience teaches you a new skill, and this collection of skills will give you more confidence in the future.
"Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile, and a grateful heart." Zig Ziglar
As I venture back into the world of entrepreneurship, I feel encouraged and confident of what lies ahead, thankful for all the previous experiences, and willing to help others in the same path.
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