The importance of closing cycles

For a few weeks now, I've been pondering the importance of closing cycles. Sometimes, there are moments when something comes to an end: a relationship, a project, a period of life, a friendship, a job... And even though the end is physically evident, we often cling to what no longer exists. As if, deep inside, that door remains ajar, and the memory constantly returns to give continuity to something that no longer exists in the present.

Closing a cycle doesn't mean forgetting or minimizing what we've experienced. On the contrary, it means recognizing it, being grateful for it, and releasing it to make room for the new. It means understanding that every story has its own time and that forcing its continuation can hold us back or block us.

We live under the belief that if I let go, I lose a part of myself. Perhaps we liked that version of ourselves when we were with someone, at work, or doing something.

The point is that we can become confused between the value of the other "issue" and our own value. That is, by clinging to a memory, we somehow grant it the power and dependence of having those moments from the past continue to define our present and our future. In other words, I cling to the sensations, the emotions, the importance I gave them at that moment, when I was simply evolving and that encounter was merely circumstantial.

Making closures to heal myself

Constantly thinking about something that has already ended requires thought, emotion, energy, and attention; by closing and letting go, these factors return to me, giving me mental clarity and space to fill with new ideas and opportunities.

Signs that it's time to close a cycle

• You constantly think about "what could have been."

• You wear yourself out trying to revive or repair something that isn't responding.

• Your emotions regarding this issue are more of pain than peace.

• You live more in the "I would have loved to do, to say" than in acting in the present

How can I consciously close a cycle?

Recognize and be grateful for what happened : To do this, you can write, talk about it with someone you trust, or talk to your therapist, reflecting on the importance this event had in your life, being grateful for what it was and what it offered you for your growth.

Open a dialogue with your past self: I'll tell you a secret: the brain doesn't recognize time. That is, when reliving a memory, the brain doesn't recognize that it happened in the past; so you can open a dialogue with your "past self" where you validate your efforts and needs. This will allow you to heal what was left unfinished at the time.

Release and let go: The act of letting go means leaving an empty space that often hurts to feel. However, you can allow yourself to embrace your inner emptiness with love and live the pain it brings with the confidence that this freed space will be filled with whatever you choose to let back into your life in the future.

Focus and move toward the new: The best way to truly close the gap is to move toward what excites you. If you're still unclear about what that will be, you can replace those recurring thoughts with a new line of thought, such as: "I have great confidence that with each step I take, I get closer to what makes me feel good and happy" (generate a line that aligns with what resonates with you and makes you feel at peace). Repeat this phrase to yourself constantly until you can replace it with another positive line of reasoning.

Remember: every time you let go, you create space to receive.

Closing a cycle is, in essence, an act of self-love. It's not about forgetting or denying what we've experienced, but rather honoring it with gratitude and allowing its rightful place in our history: a chapter that has already served its purpose. By letting go, we don't empty ourselves or lose something of ourselves; we prepare to receive. We stop living in what was and begin to live in what is, with the certainty that the present offers us new opportunities to grow, love, and reinvent ourselves.

Because life always flows forward, and we, with it.

If today you feel it's time to close a cycle and would like support to do so in a conscious and healing way, I will gladly walk with you through this process in therapy.