The Difference Between Beginning Again and Starting Over

Stop starting over, begin again.

I've said these words to clients many times over.

I've reminded myself of these words many times over.

These words were also at the core in the creation of my ever upward journey; at the heart of it, they are the true spirit and essence of ever upward.

But lately they have seemed to be significantly powerful. Especially in giving a few of my clients the permission to move forward.

Begin again instead.

Every time we start over we also attempt to erase our past or erase us or at least parts of us. I know many of us are struggling to forgive ourselves of our past mistakes or struggles or regrets. Or we wish we had been or done differently in the past. But when we look to erase these parts of our story or completely start over, we don't honor who we are today.

I would not be this happier, healthier, healing person without my past.
I would not be this happier, healthier, healing person without my mistakes.
I would not be this happier, healthier, healing person without the previous unhappy, unhealthy, suffering person I was before.

Because I would not have had to do the work of fighting for and finding my recovery.

Therefore, I would not be this happier, healthier, healing person if I had started over.

My work in my ever upward recovery has been in the spirit of starting again. Putting one foot in front of the other and choosing the best next step. Not the right step or the perfect step or the reset start over step.

The best start again step.

Because it is only in owning all the parts of our story; mistakes, struggles and all and practicing our recovery that we become the always growing, the always healing, best version of ourselves.

Always rising ever upward.