The End of a Cycle
Nature is a wonderful teacher. We can learn so much about the rhythms and patterns of life by observing the cycles that occur in the world around us. From the changing of the seasons to the development of a caterpillar into a butterfly, everything is subject to the process of transformation. This might not be obvious in terms of our day-to-day lives because the adjustments are often too small to see on a daily basis. But, if you compare your appearance today with the way you looked twenty years ago, you’ll notice that the passage of time has led to noticeable differences in your face and body. Change, despite our best efforts to slow down the effects of time, is inevitable. The same principle applies to our growth and development as individuals.
One of the hardest lessons to absorb in life is the need to recognise that one chapter must close in order for a fresh installment to begin. When you look back upon your life, you’ll see that you’ve passed through a whole series of experiences and situations that helped you to learn, grow and develop. It’s as if there’s a deeper wisdom operating in our lives that knows when we are ready to move on though, as you might recall, these changes are not always the most comfortable events to experience. For most of us, change is rarely welcomed into our lives. We prefer the devil we know to the devil we don’t.
Life seems to express itself in a series of discrete episodes that may last from just a few, short, intense days to years that stretch into decades. If you want to reduce your stress and minimise the sense of turmoil and dislocation that accompany all major changes, it’s very helpful to cultivate an oasis of calm in your heart that will insulate you from some of the distress. Daily mindfulness exercises, deeper breathing and a closer awareness of how you’re thinking and feeling can help you to identify where you might be clinging onto situations that no longer serve their purpose. When you’re prepared to move on without too much attachment or internal resistance, the process becomes easier and less stressful. It’s a natural way to acknowledge that change is going to happen anyway. Better to accept the process and become more comfortable with the journey.
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