As we enter into Autumn and say goodbye to summer I feel it’s appropriate to talk about the transition process of ending. I love the quote from T.S. Elliott- “What we call the beginning is often the end and to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.”
The majority of people in our culture tend to plow through endings and/or avoid it. We have little examples that show us how to give the time and energy to feel, process and understand the impact of endings. Whether it’s a divorce, change in career, moving, or change in roles (mother, caretaker, provider) there is little external or internal support to feel and process the change.
Yet endings are important to acknowledge if we are to be able to move on fully to whatever comes next in our lives. However, endings often feel devoid of any positive meaning and I hear clients often say in session “I don’t want to dwell on the past”. But, individuals can’t grown when they continue with old habits, attitudes and outlooks. When I work with transitions with my clients, I like to help them learn to stop, process, and understand the meaning, and personal impact endings have had in their life. This helps facilitate emotional growth and awareness.
How do you handle endings? What will you do this autumn equinox to acknowledge the ending of summer?