Ever notice how we don't really think about the past until something in our present isn't going right? It's true; think about it. If you had everything you wanted and you were happy and content with your life right now, you wouldn't be calling on your past. It's the moments that we sit down and think about what needs to change in our lives. We wind up saying to ourselves, “Well maybe if that didn't happen back in 2014, my life would be different now.” We go back and we pick at our past and constantly think about what could've happened if blah blah blah
Truth is, (and we all know this,) we cannot change our past. We cannot change our story or rewrite it, we can only write a new chapter. Although our lives may be complicated or we went off track somehow, thinking about our past and what “shoulda-coulda” happened is in no way going to change one thing in our present. But we do it, guys, I know we do it.
The only thing I would say looking back on your past is good for is this..I think we really only learn when we reflect back. What's the difference between reflection and dwelling on your past? Dwelling on your past will not change your situation, nor will it miraculously bring you back to that moment in time. Reflection, however, can help you learn and grow from the experiences. Sometimes we don't see things for what they are when we are in the moment. When we can look back and take another look outside of the moment we may see things we never even noticed before.
It's kinda like this. Ever look at a picture and focus on the main object in the picture? Later on, you may look at that picture again and see the little details in the background that you didn't notice when you first looked. We must always look at the picture as a whole, always look at the big picture in life. My point is, when you're in the moment you sometimes don't look at it that way, you're too focused on other things, meanwhile, the experience comes to an end. So, looking back can be a good thing, if you do it with good intentions.
Don't sit there and dwell, and be sad on the things that could've been if only, and think maybe your life now would be different. I still do it and I have to catch myself because it is absolutely pointless. BUT, when I sit and reflect it's a totally different story.
I guess in a way the past can help us in our present if we do it the right way. Reflecting back can help us learn about ourselves and therefore can change us in a good way that can help guide us and can change our lives for the better.
It's always nice to daydream about how your life could've been but as much as we enjoy our imagination, it doesn't help us in reality. What happened, happened, and what will happen, will happen. Life is a beautiful struggle and we're all here to experience the wonders of it.
So, remember. Don't dwell, reflect.
