New Beginnings: The Beauty and the Fear of Starting Fresh
My all-time favorite song lyric is by a 90s band called Semisonic. The verse, from one of their hits called ‘Closing Time’, says ‘every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.’ I just love the message behind this simple verse because it reminds me when I’m facing something new or unfamiliar, that I have experienced, and endured, many other ‘new beginnings’ in my life. It reminds me to not be scared but to instead, trust my ability to grow from the experiences that await me.
The warmer temperatures of Spring remind us that change is coming. It seems like everything around us is waking up. Flowers bloom, trees bud, and the energy in the air feels like fresh energy. Even if the Colorado winter seemed endless, when Spring arrives, it feels like proof that new beginnings are always possible.
And yet, even as nature embraces renewal, stepping into a new experience within our own life can feel daunting.
Whether it’s starting a new career, opening yourself to a new love, or deciding to start therapy to expand your relationship with yourself - all of these new beginnings can stir up fear.
I’ve walked alongside many clients over the years who were standing at the edge of change, feeling the push-pull of uncertainty and excitement. Have you felt this too? Uncertainty drives the question ‘What if this doesn’t work?, and excitement poses the question ‘What if it does?’
The fear you feel while facing a new beginning is not a sign that you shouldn’t take the leap. Instead, it is a sign that you are human.
Fear is wired into us and is actually our friend because it keeps us safe by causing us to slow down and think things through. We are, by nature, more comfortable with the familiar, even when the familiar isn’t serving us. There’s safety in doing what we know, even if our routine keeps us stuck in self-doubt or relationships that no longer serve us. New beginnings - no matter how exciting - bring unpredictability—and unpredictability can be unsettling and even scary.
What if, instead of being held back by what could go wrong, you focused on what could go right?
Therapy by nature is a new beginning and feels vulnerable. It is, though, an act of courage. It’s choosing to move towards healing rather than staying stuck.
Spring gives us beautiful flowers and new tree buds as reminders that growth is a process. Every new bloom is delicate, each warm day feels like a surprise, but gradually we move into the Spring season and learn to trust it’s actually here.
If you’re considering a new beginning of any kind, I want you to know that you don’t have to do it alone. Fear isn’t overcome overnight but you don’t have to let it hold you back from getting started.
If you’re ready to explore what’s next, we at IRTC are here when you’re ready.