When you have the right resources you can solve ANY problem!

When you're stuck...

When you don't know who you are anymore ...

When you are exploring career changes.

The Inner Resource Center is the place to go!




Inner Resource Center

Monday, June 28, 2010

Leave Your Past Behind

"Never let yesterday use up too much of today."

~Will Rogers

Too many people live in the past.  We let our past experiences and the emotions that accompany those experiences stockpile.  We carry them with us, long after they have outlived their usefulness.  I call these stockpiled emotions and the limiting beliefs that sometimes accompany them "emotional clutter."  And, like physical clutter, it gets in the way.  It keeps us from seeing the resources we have in front of us because they are buried in all that past baggage.  When you let go of the past, you let go of the ways that it saps your energy and keeps your from success and happiness.  You finally have the freedom to live in the present, and create today for your future. 

This week:  Think about which events in your past keep you stuck in the past.  Were those experiences pleasant or unpleasant?  Unfortunately, usually the ones we hang on to are unpleasant.  If you are hanging on to these because you think that you need to remember them and think about them to remember some important lesson, guess what?  That is a myth.  The emotions from an event are totally separate from the learning contained in that event.  Plus, when you hang on to negative emotions, you guarantee that you will be stuck in the past where they originated.  Ask yourself, "What do I need to learn from that event in order to move on?"  If you need some help letting go, find someone who can help you.  When you let go of that "emotional clutter," you'll be able to move forward and begin to ENJOY your life!

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people let go of their "emotional clutter" from past negative experiences.  She has written a self-help book: Get Rid of Emotional Clutter: How Negative Emotions and Limiting Beliefs Block Your Dreams and What You Can Do About It.  The book and free articles are available at http://www.emotionalclutter.com/ and at http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ .

9 comments:

Sue Painter said...

Boy do you get my support on this one, Linda! I work with people who are sometimes SO fear based, due to experiences in the past. Not that those experiences were great, but at some point you have to move it along, you know? LOL!
Sue Painter

Linda Pucci, PhD said...

I know. Some people think it takes a long time to let go of the past, but it really doesn't.

Unknown said...

For me, sometimes it's the devil I know or the devil I don't. Those past experiences are at least familiar, unlike the scary uncertain future.

Life sure is more fun when I can let go of BOTH of those points of view!

Sandy

Anonymous said...

Linda, thank you for reminding us of the connection between our negative feelings and being held back from our positive future. I was having a similar conversation with a wonderful client of mine about this just this morning. You post was timely validation of that dialogue. Thanks again, Jeff

Anonymous said...

Linda, thank you for reminding us of the connection between our negative feelings and being held back from our positive future. I was having a similar conversation with a wonderful client of mine about this just this morning. You post was timely validation of that dialogue. Thanks again, Jeff

Terri Brooks said...

Guilty! I'm terrible about hanging on to painful things. But I know how great it is when I do finally "let go" and move past it.

Thanks as always, Linda for your great wisdom.

Unknown said...

How timely is this. Just yesterday a friend of mine asked me if I needed to hear something. She could tell I was stuck. When I got home I realized I've been carrying a feeling with me for months and possibly a year. At least this time it's not from my childhood :) Today I will voice to the person I need to hear from.

You are always in tune Linda. Thanks for your inspiration.

Beth Woodward
www.MarketingOnThePlayground.com

Kristina Shands said...

There is nothing like a funeral to drag up past emotions. I realized I have been holding on to a lot of negativity when around my large extended family. Once I let go and just enjoyed the feeling of being around people who love me no matter what, it was such a blessing. I am very lucky to have so much family in the area. Too bad we only get together at hospitals and funerals, ...and Walmart.

Lisa Scott said...

Oh, those pesky voices from our past! If only we could always tune them out and listen only to the positive voices that have our best interests in mind - what a different place the world would be! And what a wonderful work you have in making that more of a reality for people as they trust you to help them get rid of their emotional clutter!