A lot of people think that you’re defined by your past; like, if you’ve made some bad choices, or you’ve been through some tough times, then that’s all you are or all you’ll be known for. But that’s not true.
Many people have proved to be able to turn their life around and change it all for the better. And that’s probably because they don’t have a mentality or mindset that is so negative and pessimistic as to think that their past will define them forever.
This is why in today’s article we will give you 5 reasons as to why you’re not your past and why you should adopt a more optimistic mindset. This will allow you to leave any mistakes or traumatic events in the past where they belong, and move forward towards a better life and future where you’re in control!
5 reasons why you’re not your past:
1- Your past is only a part of your story:
Your past is just a part of your story, and it doesn’t have to define you or your story, entirely. It can be something that you use to do better or something that you simply decide to leave behind and never look back. It’s entirely up to you alone what you want to do with it.
Sure, it might shape you, and it might make you who you are today which will bring us to the next point in this list. But in the end that doesn’t mean you can’t move on from it. You can learn from your mistakes, and you can choose to be different from your past and you can also choose how your past affects or doesn’t affect your current and future life. The idea is to believe that you’re in full control.
You’re in control of your own life, and you get to choose who you want to be in the present and the future. So don’t let your past define you, and learn to define yourself instead.
2- Your past only helps shape you into the person you decide to be:
We all have a past. And sometimes, that past can be pretty tough to deal with. Maybe you made some bad choices, or you were dealt with in a bad way and have traumatic memories from it. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to remember that you’re not your past. You’re so much more than that.
Sure, your past may have shaped you into the person you are today. But it doesn’t have to define you. Keep in mind two people that have had the exact same past can pretty much still end up being very different people. And, that’s because they individually decide what to take from that bad experience, what to leave behind, and who they will be in the future.
One can end up being a delinquent or someone uninterested in life and just too drained to care, which eventually will lead to that person having no future. While the other person who has had the exact same past might want to use it as motivation to do better, succeed and prove their harassers wrong.
This means that you can choose who you want to be, and you can create your own future. So don’t let your past hold you back. You’re not defined by your mistakes or your hardships. You’re so much more than that.
3- You can never make the same mistake twice:
It’s easy to get caught up in our pasts. We dwell on old mistakes and regretted choices, letting them shape our present and future. But it’s important to remember that you are not your past.
You are the person you are today because of what you’ve been through, but that doesn’t mean that your past will determine your future. Just because you made some bad choices doesn’t mean you’re doomed to repeat them.
You can learn from your mistakes and make different choices going forward. In fact, you can use your mistakes to make sure you never make the same ones twice!
4- Your past is not as bleak as you want to make it out to be:
Your past is not all there is to you. It’s easy to focus on the negative things that have happened to us, but our pasts also include positive experiences and happy memories. You are more than just the sum of your worst moments.
Regardless of where you were held or whatever you were going through, keep in mind that you still had moments of peace like taking a shower, eating your favorite food, going for a walk, etc. They might have been short-lived because you were staying in a toxic relationship or harmful situation but in the end, it probably wasn’t all so bleak.
You probably had relatives or friends that were looking out for you during that time or that were showing a lot of support. And, if you didn’t then you probably felt more at peace when alone. In any case, next time you find yourself dwelling on your past, remember that you’re probably focusing too much on the negatives.
5- The past is long gone and unless YOU remember it, it has no to be revived:
If you’re dwelling on the past and letting it dictate your present, then it’s time to let go. The past is long gone and unless you remember or bring it up, it won’t come back to haunt you.
Of course, this is easier said than done, but it’s important to focus on the here and now. If you’re constantly living in the past, you’ll never be able to move forward and enjoy the present. So take a deep breath, let go of the past, and live in the present moment.
The past will probably never come back anyway. Think about it: everything is different, your age is different, your life situation is different, the people in your life are different or have changed a lot if it’s the same ones. In brief, the past is gone once and for good.
Everything has changed, and you’re not the same person you were then anyway. So whatever mistakes you made or whatever it is you allowed to happen to you, you now know better and will not let it happen again. You may have the same name, the same face, and sad bad memories, but you’re not the same person.
You’re stronger now, wiser, and better equipped to deal with whatever life throws at you. So don’t let your past hold you back: it’s time to move on and embrace the future.
Bottom line:
It’s easy to dwell on the past and what might have been. But dwelling on the past can only hold you back from living in the present and embracing what the future has in store.
Instead of looking back, it’s important to learn from your mistakes and move on. After all, the past is in the past for a reason. So instead of living in regret, focus on the present and make the most of every moment. The future is waiting for you; don’t let the past hold you back. You can also check this article out on how to learn to leave the past behind!