I recently shared this with a friend:

I am realizing there are doors right here and now that are open for us and we can choose to go after that closed door that sounds right OR realize there is a different door that is actually wide open. I’m practicing open doors right now.

I have been noticing the concept of “open doors” ever since it came up as a writing prompt during creative sessions. I started drawing open doors in my journal, noticing the front door of my house and internally feeling frustrated when a door I thought was open was actually closed. Then I compared that feeling of frustration to experiences where though one door was closed another door was wide open.

Open Doors
For example, my daughter and I were excitedly awaiting the start of her spring season of soccer. Until I realized that there were no more spots on the teams and I hadn’t taken the extra step of requesting a coach first. Of course, I didn’t know I was supposed to do this at the time or I would have. This basically left me with a closed door —frustrated feeling. I began to ask around and see, the equivalent of knocking on some doors to see and kept hearing no.

Then an idea came to me to ask a friend who plays in a different division and there it was — a wide open door. This friend had mentioned her daughter’s league a while ago and I casually waved it off because we already had a league and routine. But here it was again, now that the other door had been closed, this open door came to me easily. Not only was this door open, I felt a sense of ease and alignment versus the feelings of frustration.

Closed Doors
It reminded me of the open door in the writing prompt and how often the door we are banging on is not open to us, yet we persist in knocking on it or waiting around it impatiently. Sometimes the door that is closed is not our door and depending on how stubborn we are (I am very stubborn about my doors). We can spend years perpetually stuck in that same space of facing a closed door and trying to pry it open instead of seeing that it is closed and turning around to see what other doors may be open.

The example of my daughter’s soccer team is not as triggering as some of the doors that may be closing or opening for you. However, it is a clear perspective of realizing when a door is closed for you and letting go of that vision for an unknown. This is harder because it requires trust, flexibility, and patience.

Willingness
Open doors and closed doors are really about the willingness to let go and try something new and living outside the box of what once was. If the doors you are knocking on are closed or what once worked isn’t working any longer, take a step back, look around and be willing to try a different door. This is really as simple as walking forward — taking the steps. You might find as I have that there are many open doors welcoming you over.

Guiding Questions:
1. What doors are closed for you right now?

2. What doors are open for you right now?

3. Are you willing to walk through an open door versus knocking on a closed door?

With love and light,
Orly