A Fresh Perspective on Your Past and a Totally Possible Future
“That was then, this is now”
That could be something you say to yourself as you reflect on where you are now in your journey, compared to where you were. You’ve started a new chapter; you’ve set aside your past.
There’s a lot of energy taken up by turning your back on something, and despite painful experiences you’d rather forget, the past has a way of returning, biting you in the butt when you least expect it. What if you could view your past experiences as resources rather than something you’d rather sweep under the rug?
One way to start seeing things differently is through journaling. At your own pace, allow yourself to think back on specific scenarios, without judgement, and see what insights come up for you. Write them down. This might take a while, perhaps one specific instance each week. Imagine you are watching a scenario play out as in a movie. This helps you to see the bigger picture, where you can appreciate others’ perspectives and external forces at play. Consider what’s valuable about your first hand intimate understanding of these situations.
If you’re still reading this, I commend you. The “journaling” exercise is a challenging one to get your head around. But, as Glennon Doyle says, “we can do hard things”.
By easing up on your judgement of past experiences, you can also ease up on your limitations, and overcome your misconceptions of reality. A piece of advice from a mentor might now be something you are ready to hear. Watch out for something unexpected that sparks your imagination and makes you sit up straight.
Being open to new possibilities can also feel weird and difficult. This discomfort comes up because of the small skeptical voice that says - I could do that? But that discomfort is a useful form of self-protection from failure. It can also be useful in that it's a sign that you have some work to do - ah yes, hard work is required, and there is no guarantee of success.
But stay with the moment when you felt that “spark” of possibility. You need to explore why you gave a damn about that little seed of an idea for it to have the chance to grow. Return to your journaling, but this time, start with the phrase - “It’s totally possible” and just write whatever you want. I learned about this from the wonderful Kyle Cease, and you can watch him explain it here
Get excited about what it could mean to gain a fresh perspective on your past and your “totally possible” future.
Let me know what you want to get excited about. I always leave time in my schedule for complimentary conversations with people who want to hear how coaching could help.