"The farther behind I leave the past,
the closer I am to forging my own character."
~ Isabelle Eberhardt
When you are stuck in the past, you often stay stuck as the person you were back then, many times determined by what others thought of you. While all of us have been shaped by the events in our past and how we reacted to them, we DO have the power to change those influences. The key to any experience, good or bad, is what we have learned from it. When you take the learning and realize what is positive in it, you are able to let go of any residual negative emotions from the experience. While that doesn't change what happened, it changes its meaning. That is of utmost importance because it opens up opportunities for you to be the person you can really be.
This week: Take some time to think about your past. Set aside that time. Think about what has shaped you, good or bad. Think about each significant experience and what POSITIVE learning you got from it. It might be something as simple (and profound) as "I survived" or "They did the best they could" or "I did the best I could." Take a deep breath as you think about the learning. Bring that learning forward toward the present as you review each significant event. When you are back to today, imagine bundling all that positive learning into a bundle and shrinking it down to fit into your pocket. Know that the learning will always be with you. Notice how you feel. Do you feel more like yourself? Or the self you could be?
Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist, life coach and expert at helping people find resources to change their lives in big ways. She is the creator of the Life Moments Makeover System™, a system for letting go of negative emotions and limiting mindsets quickly and easily. For more information, go to http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com .