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/ .

The Key to Health of Mind and Body Is to Live in the Present

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."

~The Buddha

If you want to live a healthy life, the key is to live in the present moment.  Too many people hang on to negative emotions and limiting beliefs from past experiences and sabotage their health and happiness.  Your experiences are there to teach you and allow you to move on.  There really is not need to hang on to your memories of negative experiences.  Those negative emotions are not necessary for the learning.  Let it go.  Those worries about the future?  They only focus you on those outcomes that you don't want to see happen.  When you focus on anticipating trouble, it doesn't help you prepare; it helps you create that outcome. Let go of the worries and preoccupation with the past and future.  Live in--and ENJOY--the present moment.

This week:   Notice when your thoughts turn to the past.  If you are preoccupied with things that have happened in the past, write them down.  These are issues you need to deal with that your unconscious mind is bringing to your attention.  Ask yourself: "What did I learn from that experience?"  Once you have identified the learning, imagine allowing the emotions you felt about that past experience to float out into outer space, like a balloon you are releasing. 

Notice when your thoughts turn to worries about the future.  Write them down.  Now focus on the outcome you would LIKE to have happen.  Think about that outcome at least 5 times during the next 12 hours.  Imagine that you have already achieved that positive outcome. Notice if the anxiety disappears when you focus on the outcome you want.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert in helping people let go of negative emotions and limiting beliefs that block their happiness and move quickly beyond those experiences.  She specializes in helping her clients let go of "emotional clutter," which is what she calls it.  For more information about her programs, go to http://www.innerresourcecenter.com/ or http://www.emotionalclutter.com/ for a download of her e-book.