New Beginnings

Author: Swati Mohandas

Be it a new day, a new year, a new job, a new relationship or a new start – they all come to us unexpectedly. They barge in our front doors with the beautiful promise of second chances, new, potential and incredible opportunities.

If new beginnings are so refreshing then why do we feel overwhelmed, anxious or in some way sad at the weight of what lay in front of us? So what makes new beginnings difficult?

One thing that makes it so difficult, to start something new is that we don’t know where to begin. The endless possibilities tend to make us feel a bit intimidated.

Isn’t it intriguing to think about what can happen when you are standing at the beginning of something brand new?

From my personal experience let me share that, after tremendous amount of self-doubt, procrastination and planning – I self-published a book of my poems. Thoughts like are my poems worthy enough to be printed? Will the readers resonate with my writing? Will anyone buy my book? Such thoughts are quite over-whelming and refrains us from committing ourselves to the process of opting for a new start. It takes a great deal of faith and attitude to put in the effort in a world where there is no such thing as a guarantee.

Change can bring about a lot of anxiety especially if it’s a change we didn’t initiate or ask for. Even when we know we are about to face something new, the change can be overwhelming and unpredictable. However, change is normal, natural and without it, we stagnate, we don’t evolve and become complacent. 

I think we can all remember few things about new beginnings that can help us to manage at least a little of the anxiety.

Firstly, the feeling of ‘you are starting with nothing’ is simply not true. Even when I begin to attempt a new write-up I do not begin with ‘nothing’. I come to the page armed with knowledge, experience, research, understanding and character.

You are not starting with ‘nothing’ in this new year. You are starting with YOU – the most significant thing you have and all you need to begin. 

Secondly, it might seem like everyone else in your life has tremendous clarity about their aspirations whereas you are staggering around. Well, the truth is NOBODY DOES! We are all just striving to do our best. The point is nobody just gets clarity or direction without really fighting for it. Nobody out there ‘magically’ has more than you have.

When I start to get myself worked into the ‘I don’t know where to start’ frenzy, I remind myself that life isn’t a race and there really is no huge rush. Begin where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

To sum it up, my Point of view is that new beginnings aren’t always easy. A beginning can be slow and steady, strenuous most of the time, but the real change – inside us is everlasting. This attitude of ever-evolving and ever-adapting version of myself is what I intend to carry into the newness of tomorrow.