To be fully in the present, one will benefit the most by letting go of the past. This is easier said than done.
Our experiences pile up over the years and we collect a variety of emotions, feelings, and perceptions that play out in our daily lives.
By bringing along resentments, jealousy, pain, anger, hurts, unfairness, guilt, grief, doubt and worry we override the capability to be in the moment with joy, peace, happiness and the freedom of the gift of today.
I watch, on a regular basis, how people create disharmony and stress in both their lives and others because of not letting go of the past. It haunts them to the point that those they love, work with, or meet feel drained, tired, and uncomfortable around them.
Many do not notice:
- The chip on their shoulder……
- The repeated story with no solution…..
- The rolled eyes as others turn away from them…..
- The tension they cause…..
- The underlying unresolved feelings and emotions…..
“When you’re too caught up on what happened in the past, you miss what’s right in front of you.”
How much of your past do you carry in your present?
Do you feel you have a burden on your shoulders?
Did you know the past you hold onto, can be a trigger for miscommunication and misunderstandings in your current experiences?
Are you willing to let go and find peace within?
If not now, when?
Life, both in personal and professional, is meant to be lived with passion. We are designed to expand, learn, evolve and become a better version of ourselves.
Is it possible to live life to the fullest with the ball and chain of the past dragging behind you?
Others certainly will not want to carry the weight with you, while, I am sure you become weary from the heaviness of its strain.
Do yourself a huge favor! Take a moment, or two, and be honest with yourself. Where in your thinking are you holding onto something from the past that can you can let go of? The value of letting go and freeing yourself is worth far more than keeping it bottled up inside or hanging onto.
I challenge you to take at least one thing you know is a burden from the past. Over the next 30 days, focus on coming to terms with the experience, the people involved, and even thanking them for what you have learned.
Give yourself permission to completely let go……
Replace what you release with a new thought, feeling, and action that will bring a little more excitement into your life. You will be happier and more engaged as a result.
Let me know what happens, I would love to hear how this works for you!
Cheers!
I have seen this often. You hear people complain about a boss they worked for twenty years. In it’s self I guess it happens but the intensity of his anger was unsettling. If you had to talk with him it was always like a hear we go again feeling. He saw you as his old boss. Good post Eileen.
Thank you Larry! The sad part is the person with the anger points the finger away from him/herself. When, if they would look inwardly, resolve the root of their feelings/emotions reflecting towards the person of interest, their life and those they work with, can create extraordinary collaboration and cooperation. Instead of resistance and struggle, there is team work, value, and empowerment. A small tweak in thinking can have a huge impact on the individual and the whole!
I agree hundred percent. Thank you again for sharing
You are most welcome!
Total agree with this article. Many live in the past, and they don’t even realize that they are. How often have you ran into that person that reminded you of that monster you had to work for or with twenty years ago? Now, how many of you treat the this person that we just met like that monster?
It’s way too easy to fall into trap.
Chris, my point and it can go even deeper than that…back to childhood. As adults too many are living with feelings of resentment, anger, unfairness and are triggered by a boss, partner, co-worker, and even stranger. Sometimes afterwards not knowing where the thought or action came from (why they said something or acted a certain way). The good news is, when you do the challenge I suggested, it starts to clear out the “weight” and the triggers disappear. In exchange, our daily experiences improve. Life becomes more enjoyable and we can become more engaged, happy and fulfilled!
It’s okay to think of the past. It’s okay to be enraged from past events. But it’s counterproductive to spend each day reliving the past when it stops you from doing what you need to do. Then again, if reliving the past builds you up to be a better person then it’s okay to vacation in the past. Just don’t live there.
I like to encourage taking the enraged feeling from the past and engage the will to push through the anger. Use this to create a better future by learning from the past experience. I agree….reliving the past can be counterproductive if it keeps you stuck there. And…absolutely, you can become a better person because of the lessons learned and the ah, ha’s understood moving forward making different, healthier and wiser choices that are beneficial for growth and expansion.