Yesterday is now history, today is what we have, and tomorrow reflects how well we let go and work on our past mistakes. Are the memories of the past haunting you and seizing your mind from you, keeping you in the realm of depression? Do you live worrying about what tomorrow holds for you, keeping you in a state of anxiety and fear of the unknown? How often do you feel that you cannot let go?
Here are four guidelines on how you can easily let go of your past:
DEFINE YOURSELF!
An American author, Earl Nightingale, said, “The mind is everything. What you think is what you become.” We create and live through problematic situations because they give us a sense of identity. Your memories and stories shape you but do not define you. Psychologist Carl Jung says: “I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.”
Letting go of an experience creates room for new ones. Focus on the recent and now and become at peace with yourself. Anxiety and depression will always set in when we overthink our past, making us lose control of our today. Concentrating on what people did (to you) is a mere distraction. To start with, regain control of your thoughts and be positive. It is the first step to defining yourself.
LEARN TO FORGIVE YOURSELF
Do not be too hard on yourself. When things go wrong, we tend to blame ourselves. Making poor decisions and mistakes is part of being human. Do not let your perfectionist philosophy take you over. When you find it hard to let go of the mistakes you made in the past, the feeling of guilt can make you hate yourself for the errors or choices you made.
Did you make a costly mistake? Fine, we all do. Learn and strive to forgive yourself. Errors can be amended. And mistakes are not permanent. Do not let the regrets of your actions determine your destination. It is just a stop that equips us for the journey. We must learn from them and keep moving on and forward.
BE INTENTIONAL WITH PERSONAL GROWTH
The best time to plan your personal development and growth is when you want to find out how you can move on from the past. Concentration on learning and improving is an investment in yourself and empowering. Instead of staying stuck going over your history repeatedly, take the time to figure out where you can divert the energy. Create the healthy relationship you desire and deserve? Do you want to boost your career? Once you commence your development journey, the attention given to your past will be divided, giving you a boost in life.
Most of our struggles arise from attachment. We are so used to some ways of life, relationships, success, and achievements that we let them define our state of mind and identity. There is nothing wrong with loving all these things. However, when we become overly invested in them, we can let the fear of losing them keep us from enjoying them today. Letting go of the past is not neglecting what happened but letting go of our expectations for them. We do not grieve because we ended a relationship. We grieve because we are so attached and focused on it lasting forever. When you start concentrating on your personal growth, you will gain a sense of momentum in your life.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE
Check your circle; it defines who you are. Letting go of the past will become much more challenging if you are around people who are constantly reminding you about it. Conversely, you will find it much easier to move on from the past when you are among positive people devoted to growth and progress. As Tony Robbins says, “The quality of your life is most often a direct reflection of the intentions of your peer group.” Let the assumption of peer elevation be at work in your life and positively define yourself in the present.
CONCLUSION
Letting go of the past may be challenging. But your stance on moving on will propel you to walk past all odds. Define yourself and what you want your life to be like with positivity. Identify your emotional habits and work on their imbalance. Learn to forgive yourself because you are not the first and will not be the last to make a mistake. Invest in your personal development and growth, and always watch your circle. These will help keep you away from mental instabilities like depression and anxiety.
Be sensitive to some events that have a considerable influence on your daily life, from your beliefs to your choices, including intimate relationships, mistakes or regrets, and perceived successes or failures. We all make decisions intended to realize our desires and wants. It would help if you were not regretful of the things that did not turn out well in the past, as they only hold you back from advancing in life.
New Dimensions Can Help!
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms or problems, New Dimensions can help. Our team of experienced therapists and psychiatrists can help you overcome these challenges and help you develop the skills you need to thrive. To schedule a complementary assessment or to find out more about our programs, contact us at 1-800-685-9796.
Our affiliate, MHThrive, provides Individual Therapy, Couples and Marriage Counseling, and Family Therapy at our locations in Katy, The Woodlands, and the Clear Lake area of Houston, Texas. We also provide telehealth therapy for anyone who resides within the State of Texas. To schedule an appointment with one of the MHThrive therapists, contact us at 713-477-0333 or visit www.mhthrive.com to learn more.