by Priscilla Benfield

Created on: December 23, 2009

Sometimes without even realizing it, your past can be controlling your life. Humans can be creatures of habit, and this includes falling into familiar patterns of behavior. Negative or positive, we tend to repeat behaviors that we are used to.

Often we seek out what feels familiar because it is easier than challenging ourselves to make a change. Change is hard because it means having to face ourselves and be honest with our faults. Admitting that we have done wrong takes courage. Accepting that there is always room for improvement is hard for some egos to deal with.

If you find yourself repeating past mistakes or gravitating towards the same kind of situations that make you miserable, it is time to reexamine your past and figure out why you cannot break free. It could be a self-esteem issue, fear of commitment or mimicking behaviors learned in childhood. Whatever the reasons that your past is keeping you from moving forward, you need to confront them and set them free.

The past is behind you and it is done. You cannot change what happened in the past, you can only learn from it. Holding onto the past is like walking backwards through your life. How can you see where you are going if you are busy looking at where you have been?

People who live in the past are usually living their lives full of regrets. Regrets weigh you down and keep you from living your life to it's fullest potential. Acknowledge your past, admit your errors and vow to change things. Tomorrow is your opportunity to move forward with your life. Tomorrow is not yet written. You have the power to make your tomorrow what you want it to be. Letting go of your past frees you to focus on what matters.

What really matters is what you choose to do right now. Right now you can choose to live in this moment without allowing your past to hold you back. Your past is part of who you are now but any negativity you hold on to will keep you from experiencing what may be waiting for you.

Life can be shorter than we may expect it to be. There are no guarantees. If we waste our time holding onto grudges and anger, we cannot fully live our lives. You need to face what happened in the past, deal with it and move on.  Too many people die with regrets of wasted time or things that were never said or done. Try for just one day to live like it is your last day and you will not want to waste your time holding onto the past. You will find that living each day anew will help you to break free from your past, maybe take a chance and try something new and truly experience life to the fullest.

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