Friday, 14 December 2012

Don’t Be Afraid Of New Beginnings

It was the Roman philosopher, Seneca, who said “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

Every day is a new beginning especially when things don't work out the way you hoped they would. One of my best friends has been out of work for nine months, like many other people in this country who have lost their jobs. The other day she was very excited because she was offered a job with an ad agency. But, she would be making a great deal less than she had in her last job where she had worked for ten years.  She wondered if she should try and negotiate a little more money and decided to go for it.

They told her to forget it and withdrew their offer to her.  Needless to say she was devastated and felt that she had blown it.  Apparently, I presume that they took it as her not appreciating the opportunity which I feel is narrow minded and they obviously failed to see the bigger picture.

Having an employee that is a go-getter, not afraid to negotiate a better deal and who feels that what they bring to the table has value is who I would want on my team. Instead of withdrawing the offer, they could've said this is the starting pay but there is room for advancement after you're reviewed in 3 or 6 months. But to be so uncompromising seems short-sighted. I'm not sure I would want to work for them!

Now, I'm telling you this story because many times when you feel like you screwed up or when things don't work out the way you want it's really a new beginning and it simply wasn't meant to be. The reality is that something better will come along. But if you look at the door that was closed and beat yourself up, where will that get you? Probably more depressed and stuck in the past.

The other reality is that when you really think about it would you want to work for a company that was so rigid and close minded? If they handled that situation with such an offensive and hard lined attitude what would the day in day out job be like? So even though it doesn't feel like it, there is a silver lining in every situation.

It's the same thing with other events and relationships in your life. When they don't work out or when you blame yourself for whatever happened it's a waste of time. And ultimately, things always work out in the end. And if you look a little deeper you will probably find that there were things you ignored that weren't so perfect.

Each day is a new beginning to start over, to do it differently, to pick up the pieces and move on to the next chapter in your life and to put the past in its place, which is in the past. Don't carry guilt, regret and blame with you into today or into your future. What good does it do you? How does it benefit you? Does it make you a better person?

Our lives will have disappointments, failures and adversities along the journey but they are coupled with triumphs, successes and good fortune too. Each day is a new beginning to travel the road ahead of you with the right attitude. Remember, it's not what happens to us in life that matters the most, it’s how we CHOOSE to perceive what happens to us that matters more!

Choose to look at each day as a new beginning to look at all the good in your life. A new beginning to live with an attitude of gratitude and to be thankful for your many gifts. Or, you can choose to mope around, feel sorry for yourself and live in the past. Which road do you want to travel?  The choice is yours!

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