New Beginnings: How to Start a New Chapter in Life

There’s still a little girl in me who wanted to be an astronaut, then a doctor, and then a scientist. Today, as I start this new journey, I grieve each of these parts of me that existed and still exist, but I also welcome this new journey with a warm heart and big smile. I welcome the entrepreneur.

At the age of 26, I embark on a new career path again. Ever since high school, I’ve pivoted multiple career paths, challenging the traditional social norm of figuring out and settling on one career for the rest of my life, both within me and society.

Growing up, I prided myself on knowing exactly what I wanted in life and sticking to it. Ever since I was 7 years old, my goal was to become an astronaut. That goal remained until the second year of university, when my spiritual awakening shed all the layers that weren’t me. As I awakened, so did my desire to make an impact in the world.

From an astronaut, I shifted to becoming a psychiatrist, and then a social psychologist or scientist. Now, as I wrap up my master’s, I feel a bittersweet feeling saying goodbye to this career. I love psychology, have a deep passion for it and always will, but I didn’t find meaning in writing papers and analyzing data.

So, now I’ve decided to start over once again and follow my heart’s new desire to become an entrepreneur. With no business background, no skills in sales or marketing, and no clue where to begin, I start anew. I walk this path with fear, with doubt in my mind, but also with faith, excitement, and an uncanny curiosity to see how this path will unfold.

I write this blog post for all those out there starting over at an age where they feel like they should have it all figured out, to let you know that you’re not alone. So, if you are at a point in your life where you’re beginning something new or starting over and feeling unsure, keep reading.

Starting over is like starting a new chapter. There are so many emotions — grief, sadness, and maybe fear, to name a few. But also a sense of excitement or readiness for this new chapter. So how does one truly move forward?

It’s actually quite simple, but not easy. Starting over requires two simple things: courage and a willingness to learn.

Courage

Often misconstrued as something that is required when doing crazy adrenaline-seeking activities like skydiving, it is actually an element required in smaller moments of everyday life. Courage is required to stand up for yourself or something you believe in, to switch jobs, and to end a relationship in which you feel unfulfilled.

I would never have been able to leave the safety net of my Master’s degree or the safety net of University and school if I didn’t have the courage to leave my comfort zone and try something new. Courage sometimes naturally comes when the feeling of comfort begins to suffocate rather than protect.

So if you’re ready to step out of your comfort zone and start over, let courage find you.

A willingness to learn

Once you have the courage to take the next step and start over, you also need a willingness to learn. The old ways of being and doing will no longer work for you. You have to learn to be a new version of yourself. Whether that means learning new skills at a new job, learning to be without someone, or becoming the best version of yourself yet. A new chapter demands one to learn new ways of being and doing. That willingness to learn is also enough to let you know that you can start this new path and successfully navigate it.

Bonus: A willingness to fail

Courage and a willingness to learn are great starting points; however, the journey becomes a lot easier if you are willing to fail. Whether you are looking for a new job or starting a new business, rejection or failure may be expected. Many life changes are not straightforward and can be challenging, but that doesn’t mean they’re not right for us. It’s simply a matter of persistence and resilience.

If you are willing to fail, you are more likely to succeed. For more tips on reframing failure, check out this blog post.

Conclusion

Starting a new chapter or beginning anew at a point in your life when you feel like you should have it all figured out or be settled can be challenging. But you can start over by simply having the courage to step out of your comfort zone and a willingness to learn.