Doors in Our Lives

By Lindy Earl

Doors seem like a pretty innocuous topic for a blog. Doors. Really? Think about doors – you walk through them all the time. 

Some are just doorways, carved out of the wall, but just a passageway to the next room. They offer direction, but nothing more. Since they are open space the doorway does not provide privacy or secrecy.

There are often actual doors, which provide the aforementioned privacy and secrecy. We even have terms like, “behind closed door meetings.” Those tend to be very secretive and I think it’s fair to wonder what is happening at these meetings.

Some are swinging doors, which allow you to always push forward. These need to be well-planned to ensure that there is sufficient space on both sides. They work extremely well in restaurants where people are walking with things in their hands. They don’t, however, allow for privacy.

I think the majority of doors are made of wood or some material that does not allow visual entry, but others, such as in Board Rooms, might be made of a clear composite, allowing people to see into and out of the room. I believe that this was originally done as a way of showing that the members had nothing to hide. Of course, it may have been done so that managers could keep an eye on employees even while the manager was tied up in a meeting. Clear glass allows people to look out as well as in.

Do you like French doors? Those double entry that you can throw wide open. They are inviting! They also allow large items to be brought in and out of a room with far more ease than having to maneuver through a narrow opening.

We open and close doors in our lives all the time. But, this is where we apply the analogy, what doors have you opened that you were later sorry that you did? Even worse, what doors did you close, or were closed to you? Are there doors that you should have fought to open?

“When God closes a door He opens a window.” I first heard that line in the movie, The Sound of Music. I think that there is truth in the saying. 

Sometimes we close a door behind us, and it’s good to leave it closed, because we are forced to move forward. We need to intentionally seek out other doors. For instance, a friend of mine was trying to get into Med School. Every door closed. She took a step back and thought about it, then applied to Optometry schools – a different kind of doctor. Every door opened and things flowed smoothly. She had been knocking on the wrong doors.

It makes more sense, then, to see what doors naturally open for us. These are probably the doors where their needs and our talents, abilities, and education naturally align.

Even before we begin our education or next career move, we can discern what the needs are in the business sector, and see if we can fill a needed role. I think we are seeing more of this currently, as people from Gen Z are walking toward technical jobs, where a college degree may not be required.

Yesterday, our IT guy at work told me that he has no formal education in IT, but there doesn’t seem to be anything that he can’t do related to a computer. I inferred from our conversation that he has a degree, but it’s not in IT. Yet, this is where he receives his paycheck.

It could be your first job, or a second career, or something that you want to pursue on the side, but you might want to look at what doors are closed and which ones are swinging and if any are wide open. Make life a little easier on yourself and walk through the open doors. 

I would love to hear from you. Please comment and share your thoughts. If you like this article please share with your network!

Lindy is a Consultant, Speaker, and Writer, currently living in Atlanta, GA. She is The Business Coach focusing on Relationships through Communication, Leadership, and Corporate Culture. You will be more successful with Lindy as your Coach. Please contact her at [email protected].