Why Ending Well Can Change How You Experience Life

Have you ever noticed that when something ends badly — a stressful meeting, a rushed argument, or a chaotic day — it colours how you remember the whole experience?

It’s not just in your head.

Psychologists call it the recency effect: our brain remembers the final moments of an experience more vividly than the rest.

🧠 Our brain pays special attention to endings.

That means the way we finish a day… a project… or even a conversation… shapes how we feel not only about the past, but also about what comes next.

Where this shows up in everyday life

• You can have a busy, messy day… but if the last 10 minutes include a moment of peace, that’s what stays with you.

• A tense conversation with your partner can still bring you closer… if you end with kindness.

• A demanding work period can feel energising rather than draining… if you take a moment to celebrate what you achieved.

But many of us rush endings.

We jump to the next thing.

We don’t give ourselves time to close one chapter before starting another.

Small shifts that make a big difference

Ending well doesn’t have to be complicated:

• End the day by writing down one thing you’re proud of

• Close a meeting with a genuine “thank you”

• Take a breath before walking out the door

• Finish a tough conversation with a hug or a word of appreciation

• Pause and ask yourself: What do I want to take with me? What can I let go?

These tiny shifts can improve your wellbeing, your relationships, and your confidence because they help your brain store the experience as meaningful instead of stressful.

How coaching can support you

Coaching is a space to slow down, reflect, and choose how you want to show up — not only for the big moments, but for the small ones that shape everyday life.

Together, we can:

✨ Understand the patterns in how you react and finish things

✨ Practise closing each day with purpose

✨ Strengthen how you communicate and set boundaries

✨ Build habits that leave you feeling grounded and empowered

When you learn to end things well, you start to feel more in control of your life, not just carried from one moment to the next.

Guided Reflection: Ending Well

Take 5–10 minutes in a quiet space and reflect on one experience you want to close intentionally — it could be your day, a project, or a conversation.

1. Recall the experience: 

What happened? How did it feel in the moment?

2. Identify the ending: 

How did it finish? Did it leave a sense of completion, tension, or unfinished business?

3. Consider your ideal ending:

How would you have liked it to end? What would leave you feeling calm, proud, or motivated?

4. Take a small action:

   • Write down one sentence that captures your desired ending.

   • Say it out loud, send a message, or perform a small act (a note of thanks, a pause to reflect, a deep breath).

5. Notice the impact:

How does this shift in ending change your memory or your energy about the experience?

✨ Tip: Try this practice at the end of each day or week. Over time, it rewires your brain to notice and create meaningful endings, boosting your clarity, motivation, and wellbeing.

Your next step

How do you want to feel when today ends? Or this week? This year?

If you’d like support in creating intentional endings that leave you feeling calm, empowered, and ready for what comes next, I’d love to guide you through it in a coaching session. 💛 Sometimes, small shifts in how we close moments can transform our whole life experience, and you don’t have to do it alone.

✨ I'm Raquel, ICF certified coach and mentor dedicated to helping people build deeper self-awareness, greater mental & emotional wellbeing, and a life aligned with what truly matters.