How to make A FRESH START in life (feel less overwhelming in 2023)
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New beginnings can be quite a daunting experience- even when it’s to your advantage. Having to start afresh can be overwhelming for almost everyone, and it is not about personal ability. Imagine putting so much effort into that Job, relationship, career, or home, only to realize sooner or later that you need to let that phase go and start the process all over. OH MY! The thought of it alone is stressful. It can even be more challenging when you don’t have the necessary resources (mentally, financially, physically) to make this new move or when life forces you to start over when you thought you already have everything set for you.
But…
What if I told you new beginnings are blessings in your life, and it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming adventure. I’ve had so many fresh starts in my life that I wonder what would have become of me if I didn’t get a chance to do things over or embrace the new leap when I look back now.
So, in this post, I will help you understand what it means to have a fresh start and how to make a fresh start in life successfully…
How to make a fresh start feel less overwhelming
Understanding what a fresh start means … for you
A fresh start is an opportunity for a new beginning. A time to take a leap of faith, to change course, and redirect your life on a newly defined path. This doesn’t mean the past is a waste and should be completely erased. On the contrary, a promising fresh start would require the lessons, wisdom, and experience of the past to forge a new path.
Although every day is an opportunity for a fresh start, it is important to note that making a fresh start doesn’t appear the same for two people looking to rediscover themselves, and it might take more than a new day to experience the joy of a fresh start.
For some, a fresh start could mean gaining the freedom you have always desired, for others, it could be starting over after a loss (of a job, a spouse, an opportunity, a support system, etc..), while sometimes it could mean having/learning to pick yourself back up after an emotional struggle (rejection, addiction, regret, shame, disability, etc...)
Life sometimes throws unpleasant experiences at you and if those phases are not properly handled, it could affect your chances of living a fulfilling life. Surviving those challenges could make you stronger or drains your energy to even get up from the bed.
So the big question is - how do you make a fresh start in life?
5 steps to making a fresh start in life
1. Change your perspective
Everything begins in your mind, first. You need to understand that naturally, we will all experience new beginnings in our lives. You took your first step, rode a bicycle for the first time, made new friends, enrolled in a new school, changed locations, started a romantic relationship, got a job… to mention a few! *Whew
And if you remember correctly, in each of those phases of your life you experienced a few glitches, were a bit emotional, or struggled a bit at first. But eventually, you got a hang of things, and what used to be a task eventually became a lifestyle. That friend has become family, you are enjoying the ride, or the perks in a new location, job, etc.
Thinking back, it’s all worth it. Right? That’s the same mindset you should begin with now. Knowing that everything will be fine, it’s only a matter of time.
2. Take stock
One of the negative ways of stock-taking is asking the “where do I start from?” question, which is always self-defeating and depressing. Instead, as yourself - what do I have left? What did my previous experience deposit in me? What am I starting with? Trust me, so long you are alive, you have something(s) to start afresh. Take time to analyze what is left of you emotionally, mentally, physically, financially, and spiritually.
Assuming that job is gone, what skills can you monetize now? That relationship has gone sour, but what other relationships have you left unnurtured? Who are the people available to you that you never paid much attention to? You are moving out of your parent’s care, what did your grooming stage teach you?
As previously mentioned, one of the things you must know about your self-discovery journey is that your past experiences are just experiences – simple. No experience should be classified as either good or bad. There are certain experiences that serve as raw materials for your new journey. You just need to filter what to carry on and what to let go of.
3. Seek help (where necessary)
No one can do life in isolation, not especially when you are making a fresh start in life. I once told an employer during an interview that using google maps is a modern way of seeking help. Don’t you agree?
The point is we all need help, and you shouldn’t be shy to seek the kind of help you need at this phase of your life.
First, you need a cheerleader to assure you that you can take this bold step on the journey you are about to embark on. Because at this stage, you may be fragile and vulnerable.
Secondly, you need external eyes to see the loopholes in your past, sort out lessons from the past, and help you develop a strategy towards a promising fresh start. Where did it all go wrong? Was it immaturity? Poor habits? Identity crisis? Pressure? Etc.… This is your new chance to do this over, you really want to get it right, right?
Thirdly, you need to heal, and you may certainly need a shoulder to lean on. If you need a fresh start due to a hurtful experience (rejection, separation, accident), then getting help is very crucial for you.
Our goal at onherfreshstart.com is to help you get back up, redefine, and reinvent yourself. We have developed a dedicated coaching service to empower and encourage you on your fresh start. Find out more here!
4. Focus on wholeness.
Balance is so important in life, and even more on your fresh start. There are different areas of life that make you whole. Your health (mental and physical) requires as much attention as your social life. Likewise, your spirituality is as important as the state of your bank account. Don’t focus on one area at the expense of the other. An area may be the primary focus at this point but ensure that other areas are also well managed. Start slow, quit comparison, and move steadily.
5. Drop the weight.
It’s very important to let go of the baggage of the past. It’s very hurtful if you keep referring to your past as if it is the best part of your existence. There is a whole life ahead of you, and you have only just started exploring who you can be. Regret, guilt, and blame don’t help you move forward, let it all go! Be open to new friends, new ways of living, and new adventures.
“Start over my darling. Be brave enough to find the life you want and be courageous enough to chase it. Then start over and love yourself the way you were always meant to.”
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