How to Close a Chapter in Your Life

Meesh Upadhyayula
May 8
5 min read

Updated: Jul 13

Welcome back, Happy Army!

This is a tough topic: How to close a chapter in your life.

This truly is no easy feat, especially when you’ve lived a certain way for so long, even if it’s been harmful to your growth..

I've been there. The life I led before deciding to start fresh was my rock bottom. The coping habits I clung to, the relationships that held me back, the lifestyle I had— all of it was extremely detrimental to my physical health, mental health, spiritual health, really every part of my life!

I won't say it was a waste. it all served a purpose at the time.

I needed to sink into the depths of my depression and PTSD to truly confront and heal from it.

But eventually, I could feel it shift. It was no longer serving me, and I knew it was time to close that chapter and move forward.

But how would one do that? Closing a chapter isn’t always as easy as slamming the book shut. So I'm gonna walk you all through my favorite tips on how to say goodbye to your old way of life.

Whether it’s a relationship, a job, a friendship, or even just a version of yourself, ending something takes intention.

In this post, we'll talk about:

The 10 things you need to close a chapter
Links to all my favorite life-restarter helpers

Here’s a guide to the 10 things you need to gracefully close a chapter and step into your next one with clarity.

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1. Complete Acceptance

First and foremost: accept that this chapter has run its course.

No amount of re-reading will change the ending. It might sting, but resisting the truth only makes it harder to move forward.

I still remember the day I had to face complete acceptance.

I had made a lot of horrible choices by that point, and everyone who had once stood by me was gone. One day, even my last remaining friend told me they couldn’t be around me anymore—and that’s when I realized I had hit rock bottom.

I had to admit to myself: This lifestyle doesn’t work for me. I need to change. But I don’t know how. Once I reached complete acceptance, the right people began showing up in my life—starting with the person who is now my boyfriend.

It was hard, but I am now a better person because of it. And If I can do it, so can you.

Repeat after me: “It is what it is, and that’s okay.”

2. Gratitude for What It Taught You

Even if this chapter was a dumpster fire, there’s always something to be thankful for.

Did you learn resilience? Gain clarity on what you don’t want? Gratitude helps you shift focus from what you’re losing to what you’ve gained.

I found that having a gratitude journal really helps me think about all the things I can be grateful for.

Reason #1: Because of all the extra lines, it makes me think about what else I can be grateful for. Some days, I even write "I'm grateful for another day of being alive." or "I'm grateful for the sun."

Just the simple things.

Reason #2: Writing it down makes it real, not just some passing thought.

These are some of my favorite gratitude journals, that even come with prompts to get you started:

3. Closure Conversations

If possible, have that final conversation.

Whether it’s with a person, a team, or even yourself (yes, talking to yourself is highly encouraged here), let your words be a release, not a weapon. Express what needs to be said, but don’t expect anything in return. Closure is for you.

4. A Ritual of Release

Humans love rituals. They’re a kind of spiritual closure—and on top of that, they usually come with a specific, measurable day to mark the change.

Write a letter and burn it, pack up belongings and donate them, or even have a goodbye dance party. Find a symbolic way to say, “I’m done.” It’s surprisingly cathartic.

5. Space to Grieve

Endings are hard, even when they’re necessary. Give yourself time to feel all the feelings.

Sadness, anger, relief—it’s all valid.

Journal it out, cry it out, scream into a pillow—whatever works for you. I used to sit with a friend and talk it out, and I practiced journaling.

These are some of my favorite journals:

6. Forgiveness

I find this step to be the hardest, especially since I tend to be really hard on myself.

Forgive others for how they hurt you (even if they don’t deserve it), and forgive yourself for any mistakes.

Forgiveness isn’t about letting anyone off the hook; it’s about freeing yourself from carrying that heavy, heavy backpack of resentment.

If I didn't learn to forgive myself, I don't think I would've been able to close that really dark chapter in my life. I would've continued to punish myself for all my actions, leading to a far worse fate.

Forgiveness saved me, and it can save you, too.

7. A Clear Vision of What’s Next

You don’t need a 10-year plan, but having a general direction helps.

What do you want your next chapter to feel like? Joyful? Peaceful? Adventurous? Let that vision guide your next steps.

8. Supportive People

I truly believe when you set an intention, especially when it's one of growth and love, the universe will support you. And one of the ways it does that is by bringing the right people to help you, old and new.

When I first decided to make a change, people I hadn't spoken to for years suddenly reached out to me. They helped me process and grieve.

Closing a chapter doesn’t mean doing it alone. Lean on your people—friends, family, therapists, even that barista who always gets your latte order right.

They can remind you of who you are when you feel lost.

And soon, new people will enter into your life. Ones that support you in your new journey and your new energy.

I promise, it'll happen.

9. Self-Compassion

Not every day will feel productive or empowering. Some days, you might question your decision to close the chapter at all.

Be kind to yourself. Progress isn’t linear, and healing isn’t a straight road.

10. A Fresh Start Symbol

Get something that marks this new chapter—a new journal (this is what I did), a plant, a tattoo (no judgment), or even a playlist.

I had a friend who wanted to quit smoking, so he left his last cigarette on a ledge just outside his apartment. 6 years later, that last cigarette is still there to this day.

This is your reminder that you’re stepping into something new and beautiful.