Notes On…Celebrating Endings

As a therapist, I see it all the time—people clinging to what was, afraid to let go, even when holding on is what’s keeping them stuck. That’s why I love the quote, “Celebrate endings—for they precede new beginnings.” It’s a reminder that every ending, even the painful ones, creates space for something new.

Letting go is hard. Whether it’s a past relationship, an old version of ourselves, or a long-held belief that no longer serves us, endings can feel like a loss of identity. In therapy, I work with clients who are grieving not just people, but possibilities—the version of life they once imagined. And yet, if we can shift the way we see endings, we can transform them from something we fear into something we honor.

Celebrating an ending doesn’t mean pretending it doesn’t hurt. It means recognizing its significance, giving it the respect it deserves, and allowing it to close so that something else can open. This mindset is crucial in therapy, where growth is often about shedding old narratives and making room for new ones. When we can see endings as part of the cycle, not a dead end, we move through them with more grace.

This is where mindfulness comes in. Mindfulness teaches us to sit with what is, instead of resisting or rushing through it. When we accept an ending fully—without judgment or grasping—we create the emotional space needed for what comes next. Instead of fixating on what’s lost, we begin to see what’s possible.

In the end, therapy isn’t just about healing the past; it’s about making room for the future. And sometimes, that begins with celebrating what we’ve outgrown, knowing that every ending carries the seeds of a new beginning.