“The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.” – Unknown
A majority of us are, more often than not, plagued by our past. In fact, we are so plagued by the past that we lose sight of the present and any hope for the future. But in all honesty, and as the quote states, what’s done is done…the past is what it is. No matter how much we toil over our past mistakes and stress over what we did, there is nothing that we can do to take it back. While we enjoyed the endless ‘redos’ during our childhood, we soon reach adulthood and see that that same favor is not extended.
Our past only shapes our future if we allow it to do so. You may say “But I really messed up…there’s no up for me from here.”. There is nothing further from the truth than that. While your past may make it more difficult, you are still able to shape your future…if you are willing to put forth the effort. Being so focused on the past while working towards a better future is like driving a car forward but only looking at the rear view mirror. It may go well in the beginning, but eventually, your focus will have to change. You have to ignite the flame within you to provoke a difference or else the cycle of past’s hauntings will become perpetual and leak into many areas of your life. Toxicity, especially when rooted in our own mind, affects the way we move from day to day.
Below are some ways to overcome the past, get out of your own head and start to live your best life.
- Don’t self-prophesize failure. There is power in the tongue and what you speak is what becomes. Don’t speak your failure, speak your success.
- Learn, adapt, change, try again, repeat. These are essential steps to problem-solving. Learn, improvise, adapt and overcome. Adaptation is an approach that requires change.
- Propel into the future, don’t be dragged backward by the past. Your past happened. Leave it there. Don’t let it shape your future.
- It’s never too late to create a better and happier future. Regardless of how dark the past, remember that bright days are always ahead.
- It will be uncomfortable, but it will be worth it. Change isn’t comfortable….but anything worthwhile never is. Don’t be put off by the discomfort. Be motivated by the possibility.