New Beginnings.
This article is part of Finding the Words, a newsletter that delivers practical insights on the day’s issues.
It’s graduation season, which means young people—and some very inspiring older people—are ending one life chapter and preparing to start their next. College students are reflecting on their very unusual four years, as commencement speakers seek to equally address this graduating class and this moment in history.
Here at home, the Foxes are a bit earlier along the journey as we say goodbye to elementary school for one and hello to high school for another. Whatever the milestone moment, I find this time of year a wonderful reminder that there are always possibilities on the horizon.
In the spirit of closing chapters and new beginnings, here are a few thoughts on my mind this week. May this week's reflection inspire possibilities for you, too.
Remember what it feels like at the start. Whether thinking back on your school experiences or the start of a new hobby, adventure, or job, don’t forget how it feels to be at the beginning of something new. Remembering how it felt at the beginning will help you be a better teacher, coach, boss, and friend to the person coming up behind you.
Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Don’t ignore that “gut feeling” and instead use it to help you make good decisions.
We are all works in progress. You will make mistakes, miss deadlines, and mess up along the way. Own those moments and learn from them. Sometimes, our greatest breakthroughs come from moments of failure.
It’s not what you have. It’s what you give. There will always be someone smarter than you, faster than you, more creative than you. You’ve got your thing, too. Find your gifts, hone them, and then share them generously.
Practice seeing the world through another’s eyes. As a wise friend said to me recently, “The easy option is to disagree, discount, or judge someone for their actions; the harder but more powerful option is to choose to understand." So, practice seeing life, seeing issues, and seeing humanity from many perspectives. It will help you understand more, too.
Leave it better than you found it. That goes for the classroom, the company, the planet, and just about everywhere else. Put good things into the world, and leave the place a little better than you found it.
It’s never too late. Never too late to start over. Or to say you’re sorry. Or to say I love you. And it’s always ok to say you don’t know.
And just remember this: You are smart and capable of great things.
Bottom line: wherever you are in life, and whatever new chapter you may be entering, may there be wonderful possibilities ahead for you.
This post is part of the Finding The Words column, a series published every Wednesday that delivers a dose of communication insights direct to your inbox. If you like what you read, we hope you’ll subscribe to ensure you receive this each week.
