The Circles of Life: What We Begin, What We Leave Open, and What We Choose to Close

Every circle tells a story. Some come to a close, while others remain open. And each one, in some way, occupies a space in our lives.

The circle is considered one of the most universal and ancient symbols, found in nature, art, architecture, and the traditions of many cultures.

We only need to look around us: the sun, the moon, the rings of a tree trunk, the shape of a flower, or the concentric ripples that form when a stone falls into water.

Even the Earth, although not a perfect circle, appears round to us, symbolically reflecting this shape.

In art and architecture, the circle has always held a special meaning. Think of the Pantheon in Rome, the domes of churches, the rose windows of cathedrals, or the mandalas of Eastern traditions.

With no corners or sharp edges, and no clearly identifiable beginning or end, the circle has become a symbol of harmony, unity, continuity, and perfection.

It also represents time and its cyclical nature: the changing seasons, day and night, the phases of the moon, and the cycles of life.

The Circle as a Space of Protection

The circle is more than just a geometric shape. It is also a symbol of protection, belonging, and connection.

Since ancient times, people have gathered around fires, sitting in circles. This arrangement allowed them to see one another, share warmth, communicate, and remain aware of what was happening around them.

Even today, we sit in circles when we want to create a space for listening, sharing, and participation.

Within a circle, no one necessarily holds a more important position than anyone else. Everyone can see and be seen.

The circle thus becomes a symbolic space where we can feel welcomed, acknowledged, and protected.

And if we think about it, we all have our own circles of protection: family, friends, meaningful relationships, but also the personal boundaries we choose to establish to take care of ourselves.

The circle protects, but it also defines a space. And recognizing that space means learning to respect our own boundaries and those of others.

The Circles We Open in Our Lives

Every day, we open new circles.

Whenever we start a project, make a decision, enter a relationship, face a change, or set a goal, we can imagine ourselves opening a new circle.

Every new beginning requires attention, intention, time, and energy.

Think of a professional project we want to accomplish, an important conversation we keep postponing, a decision we struggle to make, or a change we would like to introduce into our lives.

These are all circles we have opened.

Some naturally develop and reach completion. Others remain unfinished.

And it is often these unfinished circles that continue to occupy space in our thoughts.

The Circles We Leave Open: How Much Energy Do They Require?

Have you ever found yourself constantly thinking about something you haven't completed?

An unfinished task, a postponed decision, a relationship in which something remains unsaid, or a goal you abandoned without consciously deciding to let it go.

Sometimes, it is not the situation itself that weighs on us, but the feeling that it is still unresolved.

Unfinished situations can continue to demand our attention, creating worry, frustration, or a lingering sense that something has been left hanging.

It is as though part of our mental and emotional resources remains invested in something that has not yet reached a conclusion.

And the more circles we leave open, the more we may feel that our energy is being scattered in different directions.

This does not mean that we necessarily have to complete everything we start.

Rather, it means becoming aware of what we continue to carry with us.

Because sometimes, what exhausts us is not what we are doing, but what we have not yet decided to do, complete, or let go of.

Why Do We Remember What We Leave Unfinished?

There is a particularly interesting psychological phenomenon known as the Zeigarnik Effect, named after psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik, who, in the 1920s, studied how we remember completed and interrupted tasks.

Her observations suggested that, under certain conditions, we tend to remember unfinished tasks better than those we have completed.

Think of a conversation left unresolved, a decision we keep postponing, or a project we started but never finished.

How often do these thoughts return to our minds, even when we are busy doing something else?

It is as though those open circles continue to ask for space in our minds.

Of course, not every unfinished situation creates distress, and the Zeigarnik Effect does not always occur in the same way. Nevertheless, this perspective invites us to reflect on how unresolved matters may influence our attention and well-being.

What if part of our tiredness came not only from everything we do, but also from everything we keep putting off?

Closing a Circle Doesn't Always Mean Achieving a Goal

We often associate the completion of a journey with achieving a particular result.

But in life, not every circle closes the way we imagined.

Sometimes, closing a circle means completing a project or reaching a milestone.

Other times, it means accepting that something did not turn out as we had hoped.

It may mean recognizing that a goal no longer reflects who we are, breaking a habit that no longer serves our well-being, changing a decision, or letting go of expectations that are no longer aligned with our values.

Closing a circle can also mean forgiving, accepting a situation we cannot change, or simply acknowledging that an experience has run its course in our lives.

We cannot always choose how a situation ends. But we can work on the meaning we give it and how we choose to move forward.

When Life Asks Us to Draw a New Circle

There are moments when life changes direction, regardless of our wishes.

A diagnosis, an illness, menopause, a family change, or a personal transition can profoundly reshape our habits, priorities, and even the way we see ourselves.

In these situations, we may wish to return to the previous circle, to what we knew and what made us feel safe.

But that is not always possible, nor is it necessarily what we need.

Sometimes, the journey is about recognizing that a chapter of our lives has changed and that we can create a new balance.

In Health & Medical Coaching, this is also part of our work: supporting people as they explore their resources, values, and the possibilities that remain available to them, even when circumstances change.

It is not about denying difficulties or feeling obliged to find something positive in every experience.

It is about acknowledging what has changed, making space for the emotions that come with change, and gradually rediscovering a sense of autonomy and direction.

Because we cannot always return to the circle we once knew. But we can learn to shape a new one.

The Role of Coaching: Recognizing, Exploring, and Closing Our Circles

In coaching, the concept of the circle can become a powerful metaphor for exploring our lives.

A coaching journey offers a reflective space where we can pause, observe what we are experiencing, and recognize which situations are consuming our energy.

Which circles have you opened?

Which ones remain unfinished?

And which ones might it be time to close?

Through active listening, awareness, and thought-provoking questions, coaching can help us distinguish what truly matters from what we continue to keep open out of habit, fear, a sense of obligation, or difficulty making a decision.

It is not about finding an immediate solution to every situation, but about creating a space where we can explore new perspectives and recognize the choices available to us.

Because consciously deciding not to continue something can also represent an important step forward.

We cannot always control what happens in our lives, but whenever possible, we can choose which circles to continue nurturing and which ones to let go of.