The concept of being able to begin again and start over every day has fascinated me for a long time. Studying philosophy and spirituality has brought me to the idea that we can start over at any moment, with any choice we decide to make, with every breath that we take.
I know the feeling of being stuck, like I’m on a loop I can’t control. Many people, regardless of their demographic, experience this sentiment. Addressing this concept can shed light on an overlooked or under-featured area of personal growth content.
“Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.” — Mandy Hale
Often, I need to start again within a given day, or even within a given hour. I can have a productive morning, hit a wall in the afternoon, and then rally in the evening. Or I might struggle to get out of bed in the morning, gain momentum in the afternoon, and have a ‘meh’ evening before needing to sleep.
Keeping the concept of being able to begin again in mind is crucial. It’s easy to fall into all-or-nothing thinking, focus on the negatives, or catastrophize. Knowing that we can always begin again can relieve some of the pressure we put on ourselves. This mindset allows us to live more productively or at least more positively. The sun will come out tomorrow, after all.
What a relief it is to learn that we don’t have to wait for tomorrow. Sometimes, the challenges of life will dictate that we power down and try again the next day. But many other times by studying and applying the wisdom of philosophy, spirituality, and humanism; we can directly take action in the present moment to begin again immediately.
- Stoicism has a core tenet of self-reflection, (often through journaling) and course-correcting our actions, habits, and lives as we go. To begin again is to exercise virtue.
- Buddhism encourages revising our thoughts and actions because being attached to them or anything is the root cause of suffering. Small, consistent resets are normal and natural.
- Taoism believes in not overplanning or overreacting which is a wonderful anecdote to the catastrophizing and all-or-nothing thinking that causes us to get stuck and need to start over.
- Humanism highlights critical thinking and adaptation to new information and experience. Change being the only constant means beginning again is a necessity.
There is no literal reset button in this life. But a metaphorical reset is constantly possible in regards to how we choose to think, perceive, feel, and act going forward regardless of what is behind us. We can choose to begin again and change our:
- Habits
- Goals
- Relationships
- Self-Perception
Embracing the ability to revise and start over empowers us to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and hope. It’s never too late to change our stories and create new beginnings.
“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a journey, not a destination.” — Carl Rogers
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