A quote attributed to Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher born in 544 B.C., states, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” The effects of wind, water and sediment modify the river; education, maturity and life experiences transform humanity. Everything changes and evolves, and from every end something new begins.

Endings will always be with us, so the key to living a balanced and centered life is knowing how to deal with them. To recognize them for what they are and then manage our perspective is powerful.

The finality of endings can be profoundly painful, to be sure, but after the grief and sorrow other perspectives can emerge.

Let us consider some of those perspectives:  

1. Summer’s pristine mountain waterfalls end because frigid winter temperatures transform them into beautiful cascades of action frozen in place
2. Captivating sunsets are birthed from the day’s end
3. The warmth, sunshine and sounds of summer end as fall’s tranquil beauty and transformation of life begins
4. Darkness is needed to see the stars, which comes at the end of the day
5. It is at the end of a heartbeat that a new one begins, and the end of an exhale is the beginning of an inhale
6. The end of a good night’s sleep is the beginning of feeling well the next day
7. The melting of Winter’s snow is the beginning of Springtime’s clear mountain streams
8. New growth and new homes emerge from the aftermath of wildfires
9. Deep loss leads to the beginning of a new way to find peace and joy
10. The end of a pregnancy results in the birth of a new life

Endings may shatter us, but positive transformations arise from them. This doesn’t mean we don’t grieve what has ended. But we will do well to embrace the beginning that is to come. From endings arise a new way to be.

To balance our perspective on endings and beginnings is to bring equanimity into our lives. Empathy and compassion for others can arise from that equanimity, creating kinder, more gentle versions of ourselves.

And you just never know—perhaps that better version of yourself will contribute to someone else’s new beginning.