As you’re well aware, life is full of changes. Sometimes, the changes occur when you least expect them, and you end up with your routines being thrown out of whack. That’s how it often is when new chapters are opened up in your life. You might get caught by surprise, and immediately get flustered because you’ve never dealt with being in that situation before.
Fresh starts take place in your life every day. If there’s something you’re doing for the first time, you can consider that a fresh start. The term “fresh start” has a warm, exciting sound to them, but the reality is that something new isn’t always something you look forward to.
How can you make the most of a fresh start – especially when it’s proving difficult?
What you might need to wrap your mind around is the fact that an unfamiliar position or situation serves as an opportunity for you to utilize talents you never knew you had. It gives you the chance to challenge yourself and see just what you’re made of. Are you ready to do that?
Here are some tips to help you make the most of your fresh start:
1. Embrace it with an open mind.
As scary as your fresh start may seem at first, it’s really important that you embrace it with an open mind. You’ve likely seen situations in the past that turned out to be only half as bad as you had anticipated. Anticipation with anxiety can make anything seem worse than it is, so make a conscious effort to keep an open mind.
* Remind yourself that newness brings with it exciting opportunities to prove your capabilities.
* Less is sometimes more, and knowing less about something you’re about to embark on makes it more rewarding when you conquer it!
2. Begin with the end in mind.
Okay, so your fresh start has you feeling a little nervous and insecure. But have you stopped to consider what you want the outcome to be in the end? By knowing the desired outcome, you can plot the path to getting there.
* Consider how you’d ideally want the situation to turn out.
* Assess whether your ideal scenario is actually a realistic outcome.
* If it’s realistic, start making a step by step plan that will take you where you want to go.
* At this point, you might start getting really excited about your fresh start!
3. Conquer your fears with faith.
If you have faith in the guidance of your Creator and your abilities to reap positive rewards, you can overcome those fears. Faith is stronger than any fear, doubt or insecurity you may have, so feel free to rely on it when you need to.
* Remember how your faith has gotten you through tough situations in the past.
* Believe in yourself and everything else will fall into place.
4. Liken it to a past experience.
There’s a saying that goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” If you’ve had similar starting points in the past and are here now to tell about them, it means you’ve made it through them! And if they were anything like your newest fresh start, chances are you’re more than capable of making it through this one.
It’s easy to lose composure when you’re going through something totally novel to you. It’s easy to give up because you feel like you’ve lost control of your life.
The good news is that you can approach these life events with positive techniques that keep you from feeling intimidated by them.
Follow these strategies to not only deal with, but also embrace, these new chapters in your life:
1. Have an open mind.
Expect the best scenario instead of the worst. Remind yourself that you’ve made it through more challenging situations before.
* Embrace the idea that this event might bring with it all sorts of positive spins on existing situations that challenge you. This new chapter in your life could be the answer to your reaching previously unattainable goals.
2. Exercise courage.
Fear can keep you from achieving what you want out of life. It can turn strong men weak and result in disappointment, sadness and humiliation. If you picture living a life with those negative attributes, you’ll start to develop the courage to prevent that from happening. So face the unknown with every ounce of courage you have!
* Even when you’re not feeling courageous, tell yourself you’re brave. Walk into a situation while repeating the words, “I have what it takes to conquer this.”
3. Take one step at a time.
By far, the easiest way to approach any situation in life is to break it down into its smallest parts. When looking at the big picture of your new chapter, it might seem mammoth and insurmountable. But if you take a minute to dissect it, you’ll realize it’s a lot easier to take smaller bites and even savor the taste of newness.
4. Be guided by past mistakes.
Nobody you know has more experience in your life than you do! You know your strengths and abilities, and you also know where you went wrong before. Those learning lessons should be the tools you take into life’s new chapter. Use them as much as possible to help guide you through the unknown.
5. Be honest.
If your new chapter in life is something being presented to you by someone else, be honest about feeling intimidated by it. If you’re expected to tackle it and come out victorious, you definitely don’t want to disappoint! It’s better to state your position up front because people respect honest even when it doesn’t favor them.
By following these strategies, you have what it takes to make the most of a fresh start and come out with a positive experience to be proud of.
New chapters don’t have to be scary at all. You’d be surprised how perfectly capable you are of taking things head-on and relishing in the goodness they can provide. Give yourself the chance to experience fulfillment; use these strategies to embrace new chapters like you already know the outcome!
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