The Grace of Beginning Again

Kim Reindl
Apr 28
4 min read

INTENSION: Presence

TOUCHSTONE:

Extend and Receive Hospitality. Be kind to yourself and others. Create generosity and compassion through allowing space for NOT knowing. Give permission to be messy and imperfect.

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Beginning Again is Part of Life

One thing that several years of meditation and Centering Prayer have taught me is the practice of beginning again.

In meditation the point is to focus on something like the breath. Such focus helps to release us from the constancy of our racing mind. Yet, as any person who meditates will tell you, random thoughts will always make their way into your meditation time. Our minds wander to thoughts about the conversation that we had last night, the items on our “To Do List,” or the stress of an upcoming meeting. When such happens, the practice is not to chastise yourself or try to push the thought down, but rather to acknowledge the thought and allow it pass by gently. Afterward, the invitation is to return to your point of focus and simply “begin again.”

The need to begin again is not a failure, but part of life. Things are always changing in our minds, in our bodies, and in the world around us. Since life is always changing, new beginnings are part of the natural cycle of things.

New Beginnings Can Be Challenging

When something ends, you can feel disoriented. You may experience a loss of identity, wondering, “Who am I?” You may even feel a sense of failure. You may find yourself struggling with not being where you thought you would be. You may be grieving the loss of an expectation or idea. You may be grieving the loss of a person, a relationship, a job. Whatever the case, things are not as they have been. You are now faced with the reality that things are not the same.

Throughout life you may experience a shift in or end to a relationship (i.e., children leaving home, divorce, death of a loved one, the end a friendship/relationship, transition to a new role like caregiver for a parent or spouse, parent of adult children, etc.), physical challenges or limitations (i.e., aging, illness, etc.), changes in job or financial security (i.e., loss of a job or income, retirement, unexpected financial costs, etc.), or changes in your physical environment (i.e., moving to a new home, city, or workspace, etc.). Each change comes with new challenges. What was once known, even habitual, requires new attention and energy. Such is not only draining mentally and physically but can also call your sense of identity into question.

Recently, I’ve been trying to figure things out with my work. It seems that my ideas about what is supposed to happen and when is often based in my old ways and perhaps even an older identity. I find that I often return to the comfort of what is known. The known can become a protective state for me. Yet, what if what is needed most is something altogether different? What if life is calling me to cross a new threshold into the unknown?

Crossing the Threshold to a New Beginning

The space between what is known and unknown can be a time of great value and wisdom. In this space you stand at a threshold. During this in-between time, also known as liminal space, you are faced with two very important questions:

What is mine to lay down? (i.e., What must I let go of that is no longer needed?)
What is mine to carry forward? (i.e., What must I now learn, develop/work on, as well as retain, that is needed for the journey ahead?)

The good news is that you don’t have to KNOW what is ahead of you in order to begin. You have permission to take the journey one small step at a time. You can discover the answers to the above questions as you walk into your new beginning. It can be very important to take your time, notice where you are, and love the parts of yourself that need to be loved while you are moving forward. This is the grace of NOT knowing. As a friend of mine once said, “The invitation to LISTEN is in the not knowing.” Such is an opportunity to pause and listen, really listen to your life. What is your life telling you? What is your inner teacher telling you? Is anything in the world around you calling your attention? What is it saying?

You Are Stronger Than You Think

Never forget, you are stronger than you think! You would not have made it this far if you did not know how to adapt. Your whole life has been full of change, even if you don’t realize it. Stop for a moment and consider how many times you have had to begin again in your lifetime. What did you learn about yourself during these times? How did you make it through each time of change?

Starting over can be really hard. Yet, you hold within the strength and the power to do hard things. Wherever you are facing the threshold of a new beginning, you already hold in your hand many things that you need. This may be the opportunity that you have been waiting for. You have an invitation to discover yourself (or remember yourself) in a new way. Dare to be messy! Dare to be imperfect! Dare to be kind and generous to YOURSELF!

Remember… if all else fails, you have permission to begin again, again!

With love and gratitude,