What If...You're in a Losing Battle With The Past?

I've noticed that discouragement often comes when people are fighting with the past.

Have you ever had thoughts like these?

• That shouldn't have happened.

• I should have known better.

• They shouldn't have said that.

  
  

These thoughts, and many like them, are essentially arguing with the past.

When we think this way, we're believing the past should be different than it actually is.

We're going to lose that fight every time because the past just IS, now.

We may wish it were different, but it's fruitless and disempowering to argue with what's real.

Thinking these thoughts gives us a false sense of power because we think we're fighting for something we value.

We can do that, but it usually doesn't move us towards the life and relationship we want.

It's much more empowering to follow these steps:

1. First accept the facts for what they are (she DID do that and it's a fact)

2. Accept that the reality is only that; it's not a "good" reality, or a "bad" reality, just a real one.

3. Pause there to notice that you're no longer fighting with it

4. Ask yourself "What's in my power here?" and "How do I want to use that power?"

5. Move forward with intention

Where in your life have you been fighting with the past?

What has it been creating in your life?

What would be better for you if you let go of that fight?

What could you create with that energy?