3 Reasons to Put Your Past Behind You

Why do people feel that their past has any definition at all of who they are as a person today? Why can’t they forgive themselves and move on?

People tend to carry their old baggage to constantly readdress the shame of past mistakes over and over again. They feel if they continually beat themselves up that one day they will be set free. I have been there as a man with a ton of past mistakes and understand how we can all fall into this trap. But now I no longer accept my past as anything at all.

Society as a whole does not believe in forgiveness. In fact they love to pile on and bury anyone who makes a mistake. The bigger the mistake or negative action the better because that is what people want to see. They thrive on someone else has screwing up so they can make themselves feel better. Better yet they can say “see I told you he was a piece of crap” to others to appear as some type of authority. This is what makes other people feel superior and in the end it is none of your business. That is correct. What others think of you is none of your business. Learn that lesson and your life will change forever. You know what you are up to and how you are living your life and you make those choices. No one else has any say.

In the wake of your past decisions you will see many ups and downs. Many triumphs and failures. I certainly have made a lot of poor decisions. In fact I feel at this point in my life I have made more horrible, dishonest and shameful decisions in my life than good ones. These actions have hurt others and caused my family pain. I have felt pulled underwater struggling to breathe by the weight of the past and all of the mistakes I have made but today there is nothing I can do to change the past. I can only course correct my path and try to do better. I am constantly reminded of my past mistakes and as a former felon I will have that tag attached to me for the rest of my life. This tag will not be put on me by myself but instead society will remind me over and over again. I will always be a “yeah but.” People will say that I am doing positive things now but you know he did go to prison.

Many people do not think people deserve a second chance. They do not think people can change and sometimes that is true. If you take a look at people overall many never change. Even the people that may never harm another person by living a simple life will simply “be” going about their day. But is this a good thing? To say that people can never change is hypocritical because we see the evil person as being bad for not wanting to change while we see the person who does nothing to improve in their life as acceptable. Everyone can change and that is why the past does not matter. It is only the present actions of the person that matter. I understand that it may take time sometimes even years for someone to be accepted as a changed man but that is up to the person who is passing judgement.

Here are my three reasons why the past does not matter and how to free yourself to be in the present moment.

Recent experiences in my life have lead to this article and I hope you can learn how to let go of your own past and get on the track to living in the moment. Check out my podcast “Pitching the Truth” for more insight into my journey.

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