Endings...Void....New Beginnings

ENDING…VOID…NEW BEGINNING First, each transition begins with an ENDING. Change means letting go of the old (old behavior, old patterns, etc.) before we are able to embrace the new. Sooooooo, the first stage of the transition process is "Endings." Some of my personal Endings: Daughter, Sister, Many Friends, Mother in many aspects, Wife, Beautiful Home, Freedom to spend Money, Perfect Health, Being a Controlling Mother, Being a Control Freak, Unity Teacher, Old beliefs, victim of sexual abuse, victim of childhood abuse, swimmer, runner, my youth, my Ego/Pride, my need to be right, the Perfect Body, judgment (work in progress), blame, etc...These are just a few.Many of us would like to believe that the stage of "Endings" is followed by a “New Beginning” it is NOT! The next stage is called "The Void." This stage is characterized by a feeling of emptiness and a sense of "wandering in the wilderness." (Maybe where you are now and I have found myself every time change/transition comes my way; it's never-ending) Finally we come to the last stage which is that of "New Beginnings." He also says, "Endings should be honored but not to worship them!" Here's the four phases we go through when we have an ending experience: Disengagement.........no longer engaged in what was once a familiar part of our life.” What is my life about?" "What is my place in the world?" An ending impacts our answers to all of these. There is no single "right way to experience an ending. It is important to allow ourselves to have our feelings and to be cautious in making major decisions. Disidentification........Our outer world mirrors parts of our identity; when we lose the outer "mirror" it may feel as if we have lost part of ourselves. Disenchantment.......Every culture "enchants" its members through its system of collective beliefs and values. We usually believe these beliefs are true, without question. To be disenchanted is to have one of these basic assumptions shattered. We may need these beliefs (i.e. enchantments) at certain stages of our growth, but at some stage, we need to release them. Much of our growth consists of letting go of "outgrown" enchantments. This is a very positive thing, but it rarely seems so at the time; it usually feels AWFUL!
Disappointment occurs when a certain circumstance fails to meet our desires……yet we continue with the same basic set of assumptions; disenchantment occurs when we drop the basic assumption. Disorientation......... An ending may trigger disorientation: a sense of confusion, a LOSS of a sense of direction. The "maps" that we used to guide our life may suddenly become useless.
There is no single “right way” to experience an ending. It is important to allow ourselves to have our feelings and be cautious in making major decisions.
At this time, I feel it is especially important to turn to the God of our understanding and to trust that we are being guided