Do you allow your past to affect your present situations and future outlook? You aren’t where you were even five hours ago so why is it so difficult to leave the past behind? It’s easy to carry around guilt and frustration due to past mistakes, life-changing experiences, and misunderstandings but your perception of each of those instances determines if you are truly ready to leave the past where it belongs.

I was once scared to leave the past behind me. I was so used to using my past as an excuse to not move forward that I solely focused on my failures instead of continuing to pursue my dreams and desires. When I came to the realization that this was getting me nowhere, I garnered the fortitude to change my life. Those same mishaps gave me the strength to start the next chapter that only I could write. I now know that you only can go forward by making mistakes. Listed below are attributes I employ in my life to leave the past behind…for good!

Patience. Timing is everything and the key to any endeavor put forth. Know that letting go of the past is sometimes not an easy, quick process. This requires you to have inner strength to face your fears and understand that change may not occur on your time. As you begin to reframe your thoughts and employ new habits, you will ultimately create a world of new possibilities for your life!

Action. Activity yields results – especially when you learn to prioritize. Make sure you are consistently moving towards your purpose while ditching your past. We all know that actions speak louder than words. Use the mistakes you’ve made to fuel your current goals. Effort is the best indicator of interest.

Strength. Security within yourself shows not only in the ability to persist, but the ability to start over. Each new day presents an opportunity for you to be great! Different stages in life will require you to be a better version of yourself every time. Never be afraid to begin anew!

Trust that all things happen for a reason. These parts of your life will reveal its lesson at a specific point and time. In the meanwhile, continue to grow in the process. The only time you should ever look back is to see how far you have come. Trusting requires you to take control of your own thoughts and accept responsibility for your own happiness today.

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. (S. Kierkegaard)

By Dr. Avis Foley, Co-Publisher

Purpose Weekly