Louise looked at her friend Beth across the table, remembering all the good times that they had growing up, in high school, and then at university.
And now, here they all were at her graduation party celebrating and sharing the triumphs of Beth who had just graduated from university with a degree in Marketing.
Louise reflected on her own journey and knew that she, too, should have been celebrating her graduation, but she had deferred her studies, had wanted to go overseas, and thought she had plenty of time to go back to study.
But, her friend was moving on—she had a new job, a new set of friends—and Louise felt left behind as she wished for the old days and the old Beth back.
So started the story of “living in the past” and not being able to move forward.
It is natural for people to get nostalgic for the past, especially when things change. Nostalgia returns us to a period of time when we felt safe and loved.
However, change is inevitable, and both time and things move on. Yet, most people do not like change as many are creatures of habit who like to stick to their normal day-to-day life.
Change can seem threatening, and walking into the unknown can be daunting as it presents uncertainty.
It is for reason that people stay stuck in the past afraid to move forward.
The obstacles with staying stuck in the past can be that you stop planning for the future, are not inspired, don’t get excited about life, and are held back from enjoying the present moment.
So, this week’s challenge is to let go of what is familiar, the past and to start living in the present. It is about being mindful, which is defined as moment-to-moment awareness.
Mindfulness allows you to respond to life from a place of clarity.
One way of becoming more mindful is to meditate for 5 minutes (or as long as you can to start!) by sitting quietly and following your breath as you inhale and exhale. This simple act of following your breath can help you feel more conscious and connected to the present moment.
It can make you feel more confident and believe that the present moment holds amazing opportunities and possibilities.
The truth of the matter is that the past cannot be changed. The present moment is all we have, and that is why it is essential to live fully in it.
So, learn from your past, live, and embrace the present to keep creating your future.
Forever creating,
Deborah Ruth
