How many times in your life have you had the experience of disappointment. You were headed in what you thought was a good direction. There was opportunity ahead – and then – without warning – the door abruptly closed on that wonderful new opportunity. How did you feel – how did you react? You were probably saddened, maybe somewhat depressed. Probably felt a bit like a victim. We’ve all experience this.
However, there is another way. A better way. And it starts with the belief – in fact the certainty in knowing that when one door closes, another door opens. Moreover, that new door offers opportunity far superior to the door that just closed. And beyond that, you can be superbly comforted in knowing that had the first door not closed, this new door never would have been made available to you. Funny how the world works. You simply need to believe. Believe deeply – with full faith in the positive outcome – and yes, it will all work out!
Sometimes it helps to look back and realize that some of the best things in life have come from what, at first, seemed like failure or rejection. Think about J.K. Rowling—before the fame and fortune, she faced multiple rejections from publishers who didn’t believe her story about a young wizard would ever sell. Then, one publisher finally took a chance, and the world was introduced to Harry Potter. If all those earlier doors hadn’t closed, perhaps she would never have found the right one that led to global success and personal fulfillment.
In everyday life, this truth plays out in smaller but equally powerful ways. Maybe you didn’t get the job you wanted or the relationship you hoped would last. It stings, but then something surprising happens—you meet someone new, discover a new interest, or end up down a career path that fits you better than you ever imagined. A friend of mine was laid off from her corporate job, devastated at first. Yet that “ending” gave her the courage to start her own small bakery business. Today, she’s thriving, happier than ever, and working on her own terms. That closed door turned out to be her greatest blessing.
The hardest part is trusting the process while you’re still standing in the hallway between closed and open doors. It can feel like limbo—uncertain, uncomfortable, and sometimes lonely. But that’s where the magic happens, quietly and invisibly, as life rearranges itself to bring you to the right next step. It might take weeks, months, or even years, but if you keep your heart open and your outlook positive, that next door always reveals itself at just the right time.
The next time you find a door slamming shut in your face, pause before you sink into disappointment. Take a deep breath, remind yourself that there’s meaning in this redirection, and look forward with gratitude and grace. Life tends to guide us toward what’s meant for us—one closed door at a time. And when that new door opens, you’ll smile and think, “Ah, now I see why the first one had to close.”
So, embrace the unexpected twists and turns. When faced with a closed door, remember it’s not the end—just a hidden invitation to something even better. Trust in the journey, keep your spirit open, and let optimism lead the way. Sometimes, the best chapters in our story begin just when we think one is over—because every ending is just the start of a new adventure.
