Last update: December 03, 2015
How many times have we attached ourselves to memories, to images of yesterday, to people of the past, without realizing that, to live our present and take possession of the future, it is necessary to make a small cutout in our life and leave aside the feelings and nostalgia provoked by certain reminiscences.
There are many people who live anchored to a past that no longer exists, and this paralysis prevents them from living the current reality, enjoying the present and thinking about the future. Living in the past represents an obstacle for the formulation of dreams and goals and distances from the people who are close to you in the present moment of life.
"If it is not in your power to change a situation that creates pain, you can always devise the attitude with which to face this suffering".
(Viktor Frankl)
3 steps to let go of the past
There are many ways to let go of the past and detach from it, to leave bad memories aside and to realize the famous saying “carpe diem”, to live the moment, the now, the present. Have you ever stopped to think about the beautiful and happy moments you live every day?
A conversation with a friend, a smile with your partner, a hug from your child. It is not enough to think about it: live them when they are happening in front of your eyes, do not get distracted. Put away your cell phone, turn off the television and listen to the sound of the present that surrounds you, enjoy it with all five senses.
“If the present tries to judge the past, it will lose the future”.
(Winston Churchill)
To enjoy the present and see your future, it is necessary to let go of the past that you often cling to senselessly. Let it go, put it away and go on living; your life is waiting to be lived. Below, we suggest three simple steps to let go of the past:
To accept
The past cannot be changed, but the present and the future can. Therefore, accept what happened and free yourself from the sense of guilt that you carry on your shoulders and that does not allow you to see the future and feel the present moment. Approval is key to addressing chest issues.
Learn
From every event in the past it is possible to extrapolate a lesson: we know what we must not redo, what we must avoid. If we make the same mistake from the past again, we can no longer call it an error, but a choice. Since you have the choice, do you prefer to stay anchored to memories or squeeze the most out of what the present can give you, enjoying every second?
To forgive
It often happens that we are unable to forgive a person who has hurt us or a friend who has betrayed us, but, with the passage of time, the resentment fades and is diluted; forgiveness is a way of anticipating this peace with ourselves and with others. Forgive others, but forgive them for real, without falsehood and, above all, forgive yourself. Only in this way will you free yourself from the chains that keep you tied to a past for which, by now, you can no longer do anything.
Grasp the future
Allow yourself to dream, you do take a deep breath and think about what you want your life to be like in the future; therefore, do what you can to make your wish come true. Define a goal and enumerate all the steps required to achieve it. How is the house you want to live in? What places do you want to visit? What job do you want to do? What is your ideal partner like?
If you ask yourself all these questions and answer that it all depends on luck or third parties, you are very wrong, because you are the only ones who can make your dreams come true. Nobody will come to look for you at home to offer you the much desired job; your dream partner will not suddenly show up before your eyes; you won't find yourself living like magic in a gorgeous beach house.
Step out of your comfort zone and take control of your future! Once you have set your goals, think about the steps to follow, organize a calendar and plan all the details. At regular intervals, check your progress and correct mistakes made. But remember that a goal must be clear, concise, doable and realistic.
“The future has many names: for the weak it means the unattainable; for the fearful it means the unknown; for the brave it means opportunity "
(Victor Hugo)
