“Don’t let your past pull you back.
If anything, let it propel you forward.”
-
Erika
About a month
ago, I was on my way to work and I had an epiphany! It’s funny because it
started off being a standard weekday for me. You know, it was the usual morning routine…get
up…brush teeth… shower…. put on clothes…head out the door, etc. As I was driving in 8 o’clock traffic, I
looked in the rear-view mirror, but I noticed that I could not see the traffic
behind me because of the dew on the window.
Right then, the following phrase popped into my head, “Don’t let your
past pull you back. If anything, let it
propel you forward.” In that moment, I realized that at times we can get so
caught up on our past. We can actually
become so fixated on our past that we become stuck there. We get
so hung up on past failures, past hurt, past relationships that it hinders us
from progressing towards our future.
I’m not saying
to completely ignore the past. It is my
belief that experiences from our past can provide valuable knowledge and can be
exceptional learning experiences.
However, the problem comes when we’re too busy looking in our rearview
mirror and not focusing on what lies ahead.
Don’t allow the past to keep you in bondage. Don’t let past hurts
control you. Instead, let your past
experiences be building blocks for you. Let it motivate you to strive for more!
Learn from the past, but don’t live
there.
You may
be wondering how to be free from negative thoughts and feelings associated with
your past. This requires time, prayer,
and effort. Sometimes the process of
letting go can be quite lengthy. Yet,
here are a few strategies that can assist you in this process:
1. Acknowledge the positive aspects about the
situation. Although we may
experience negative and traumatic events in our lives, it is vital that we
identify the good parts of our lives.
Changing our perspective about the situation is half the battle. For example, suppose you’re hurting due to a
past unhealthy relationship. Instead of
ruminating on the negative parts of it, try being optimistic. You can shift your focus to some of the
positives such as: “I was hurt during the relationship, but I’m thankful for being
free from that person now,” or “That relationship was not pleasant for me, but I
sure did learn a lot from that situation!”
2.
Engage
in thought stopping techniques. Thoughts
can sneak up on us at times and can be quite intrusive. If we are unprepared, these painful memories
can be exacerbated when they arrive unexpectedly. However, you can defend yourself from
negative thinking. When you find
yourself being ambushed by unpleasant memories, change your focus
immediately. Instead, think about
something uplifting and encouraging.
Occupy your mind with tasks that need to be completed, sing an
inspirational song, read the Bible, or think about a happy moment in your
life. Remember, YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR THOUGHTS! Activate your authority!!
3.
Focus
on the present and the future. We
cannot control the past. Worrying and/or
fixating on the past will not change what has already happened. So if focusing on the past is not enriching
or helping you in anyway, why bother concentrating on it?? Don’t get me
wrong. As a counselor, I definitely
recommend addressing and processing issues from your past that may be impacting
your life. However, when you notice that
your past is creeping up on you and causing you to be discouraged, then I recommend
that you focus on your present-day life and future goals. Remember that you are not your past. Remember that your past does not have to
control you. Re-direct your attention
and focus on the things in your life that you can influence such as your
current and future endeavors.
No comments:
Post a Comment