Closing Doors

We all know the old saying, when one door closes another opens. Some doors close whether we are ready for them to close or not and yes - at best - maybe this is the universe pointing us in another direction. Maybe this is divine intervention and we should just trust the process.

But what about the doors we are meant to close ourselves, for ourselves? What do we stand to gain when we recognize it’s time to set our own boundary (physically, mentally or otherwise), and close a door (literally or figuratively)?

As an individual who is sensitive to environmental stimulation (light, noise, clutter, colors, temperatures, etc.), closing an actual physical door - and creating a contained space - can be extremely beneficial. For me, closing a door creates quiet, an increased ability to concentrate, privacy to process a variety of ideas and feelings, and ultimately, a sense of inner expansion. The beautiful paradox of setting boundaries is that they allow us to safely expand, increase our ability to be flexible and to remain safe while doing so.

If we take this concept beyond the physical spaces we inhabit and consider what happens when we are courageous enough to shut a door on a chapter of our life that is concluding, the same beautiful paradox applies. The boundaries we set and hold allow for our own safe expansion. With inner expansion comes the opportunity to connect more deeply with others.

So yes, I think it’s true that when one door closes perhaps another opens. What they left out, though, is that we can go ahead and close some of those doors on our own, whenever we’re ready.