Your Next Chapter

Your Next Chapter Doesn’t Need Permission From Your Last One

Have you ever looked back at your life and wondered how on earth you ended up where you are? Because I certainly have. One minute you’ve got this lovely little picture in your head of how everything is supposed to work out, where you’ll be, who you’ll be with and what your future looks like. Then the universe comes along, flips the whole thing upside down and leaves you standing there wondering what just happened. A little warning would’ve been nice, mind. Even a quick email would’ve done.

I think one of the hardest things about moving forward is letting go of the life we thought we were going to have. We get so attached to certain people, plans and expectations that sometimes we don’t even realise we’ve outgrown them. We keep trying to squeeze ourselves back into situations that no longer fit, simply because they’re familiar. It’s a bit like keeping a pair of jeans from ten years ago because you’re convinced you’ll wear them again. They’re uncomfortable, you can barely breathe, but you’re determined to make them work anyway.

Something I’ve been learning this year is that changing direction doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Just because something was right for you at one point doesn’t mean it has to be right for you forever. We’re constantly growing, learning and discovering new things about ourselves. Sometimes that means leaving behind things we once thought we’d never live without. It doesn’t make those experiences meaningless, and it certainly doesn’t mean the time you spent on them was wasted. They were part of your journey and helped shape the person you’re becoming.

I’ve had enough plot twists this year to keep Netflix going for another three seasons. Some have been wonderful, others have been incredibly difficult, and a few have genuinely made me question whether the universe has got me confused with somebody else. Yet when I look at where I was compared to where I am now, I can see just how much has changed. Not everything has gone to plan, far from it, but I’ve discovered parts of myself I’d forgotten existed and others I didn’t even know were there.

The funny thing about moving forward is that we often feel like we need permission to do it. We worry about what people will think, whether we’re making the right decision or whether we’re somehow betraying the person we used to be. Here’s the thing though, you’re allowed to change. You’re allowed to want something different, take a completely unexpected path and build a life that actually feels like yours. You don’t owe anyone a lifetime subscription to an outdated version of yourself just because that’s the one they’re comfortable with.

Moving forward doesn’t mean you have to hate your past either. You can appreciate the good memories, acknowledge the difficult ones and still decide it’s time for something new. You can love what something once meant to you without needing it to remain part of your future. Some experiences are wonderful, some are painful and some are best filed under ‘well, that was an experience’. They all teach us something, even if the lesson is simply knowing what we won’t be putting up with again.

So wherever you are in life right now, remember that you don’t have to have everything figured out before making a change. You don’t need everyone’s approval, a five-year plan or a detailed itinerary from the universe. Sometimes it’s enough to know that where you’ve been isn’t where you want to stay. Take the lessons, keep the memories that make you smile and give yourself permission to discover what comes next.

Your next chapter doesn’t need permission from your last one.

After all, it’s your life, and you get to decide what you do with it. Just don’t be surprised if the universe throws in another plot twist for dramatic effect. Apparently, it enjoys keeping us on our toes.

Daily Affirmation

Onwards, Nova x