The Past Is The Past

 

"The hopeful man sees success where others see failure, sunshine where others see shadow and storm." - O.S. Marsden

 

It is understandable to have regrets about things we've done in the past. We may even wish to shut the door of memory and permanently block out whole periods of our lives. Yet it's possible to become grateful for the past. It is possible to abandon our old way of thinking about the past, and view it with new perspectives that will allow us to come to terms with it.

 

First, it starts by viewing your past for what it was. Take responsibility for it. Own it. Your past, everything and everyone served its purpose in creating who you are today. The good and the bad. Often it isn't regret for the things we actually did, but in the way we feel about those things today. And then let it go. The past is exactly that, the past. You cannot go back. You cannot change it.  You can only work to create a better future. You can't master your future if you are a slave to your past.

 

I get that you can regret some of the things from the past.  But you shouldn't live in regret. We may still carry heavy burdens of guilt and have not forgiven ourselves. Or maybe we haven't realized, or given ourselves enough credit for changing our past behavior patterns and constructing new lives. If you have, give yourself some credit.

 

Second, forgive.  Forgive yourself and forgive others. If we approach it from the standpoint that life happens FOR you, not TO you, it can give you a whole new perspective. You cannot control other people. You may think you can, but you can't. You CAN influence others, but the truth is only they can control who they are and what they choose to do. They have to decide.

 

Third, choose. It's your choice. Choose to live in the present. Choose to believe in yourself. Choose your attitudes. Choose your thoughts.  Choose your actions.  Choose to learn from, but release your past.  Choose to forgive yourself and others so that you can live without regret or remorse. Choose to make a difference in your own life from this day forward.

 

Make today great!

 

Curtis

 

"A diamond doesn't start out polished and shining. It once was nothing special, but with enough pressure and time, becomes spectacular. I'm that diamond." - Solange Nicole