As we step into May, I find myself standing at a powerful crossroads — one that feels both familiar and entirely new, as I experienced similar feelings only two years ago with my oldest daughter, Alex.
High school graduation season is here…again.
This time it feels a bit different, though. This time my youngest daughter, Iliana, is graduating from high school and preparing to head off to college in the fall. And while watching her take these steps into adulthood brings a rush of emotions…pride, excitement, a touch of sadness, and a deep sense of wonder at the road ahead…I also feel an overwhelming sense of amazement and melancholy.
U see for Iliana, this is a clear ending — the close of a beautiful chapter filled with friends, learning, and growth — and the thrilling beginning of a new one. So much excitement and fun lies ahead, coupled with nervous energy and wonder. And with this new season for her, it’s a new beginning for me. As a mom, this moment is a transition from the hands-on daily parenting of school years into a new relationship of guidance, encouragement, and support from a different distance. This is my youngest child, and in a few weeks, my daughters’ high school graduation season will be over…forever.
As I have been reflecting on this momentous milestone, I recognized that endings and beginnings like this are not limited to family life. They are constants in business, too. We launch programs, close projects, bring on new team members, close the doors, celebrate milestones, and shift directions. Each ending carries with it the weight of experience and the wisdom of what we’ve learned. Each beginning opens space for fresh ideas, new strategies, and the opportunity to dream even bigger, and bolder, than we ever have.
In both life and business, the key, in my opinion, is to honor the ending — to pause and reflect on what was — and to then step gracefully and confidently into the new beginning, with openness and courage. Change can feel uncomfortable, even bittersweet, and it is also where growth happens. Just like Iliana is stepping into a new world of possibilities, we, too, are invited to lean into what’s next with excitement rather than fear in our own businesses and workplaces.
Here are a few ways to navigate endings and new beginnings with greater ease, that I myself have been practicing:
• Take time to reflect. Before rushing into the next thing, allow yourself to process what’s ending. Celebrate the wins, grieve the losses, and acknowledge how far you’ve come. Because let’s face it, you’ve come far, baby!
• Honor the emotions. Endings often bring mixed feelings — sadness, relief, excitement, anxiety. All of these are normal. Giving yourself permission to feel makes it easier to move forward. And taking a breath and feeling it all helps it sink in.
• Get clear on your vision. New beginnings are an opportunity to realign with what matters most. Ask yourself: What do I want this next season to look like? Then set intentional goals to support that vision. (And if U ever need help with this, I got U.)
• Stay open and flexible. Beginnings rarely unfold exactly as we expect. Stay curious, adaptable, and willing to adjust your path as U learn and grow. Nothing ever goes exactly as planned…that’s the mystery, and magic, of the journey.
• Trust the process. Every ending and beginning is part of a bigger story. Even when the future feels uncertain, trust that U are being prepared for something meaningful and new. We have been asking our U & Improved students and graduates to “trust the process” for over 16 years now. There’s a reason…because trusting the process is the answer when U find yourself questioning the process!
As I celebrate Iliana’s incredible journey into this next beautiful and exciting phase of her life, and brace for my own shift into a new chapter of motherhood, I’m reminded that every ending is simply a new beginning in disguise. It’s not always easy, however it’s life. And it shows up in nature, in parenting, in business…it’s everywhere around us because it’s quite simply, the circle of life. So embrace your endings and beginnings both with heart and intention, and create space for your next great adventure — in life and in business. Cheers to U and all that lies ahead, and to my forever baby girl, Iliana, the world is yours! Go get everything U want and deserve!
With love & gratitude,
Jodi