“We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.”
– Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life
Our past is a great teacher for a better future. For example, I wouldn’t know how to balance a checkbook, had I not bounced a few checks in college. 😬
So, the good news is, that our past is amazing at molding us into better versions of ourselves. That is, until “our past” fails us.
You see, our past experiences can also leave a mark that holds us back. For example, if you dropped out of college you might take on an identity of “a failure”. Or, if you believe that your current health status (ie: stroke) is the result of being “unhealthy”, you may believe that you are not “a healthy person”.
And…….
What you believe to be true, is in fact, true.
Here’s the thing, you can’t change your past. Period. But your past does not have the power to dictate who you are today.
You CAN be anything you want to be. And no, this is NOT “pie in the sky” mindset stuff.
Do you want to “be healthy”? Well then, make a choice to start being a “healthy person” for one meal each day. Just one meal. Voila….. You have behaved like a “healthy person”.
Do you want to be more “disciplined”? Starting tomorrow, do one thing that you know will create positive change in your life. In particular, something that you really don’t want to do. For example, do 20 squats first thing in the morning instead of giving in to the temptation to hit the snooze button 3 more times. Discipline is a muscle that CAN be developed at any age.
Here is the truth, we are never too old to become a better version of ourselves. In fact, that is what life is all about. It’s what makes life exciting.
Life will continue to move forward. The question is, do you choose to move forward as the same person? Or do you choose to be a person that your future self would be proud of? If the latter, what belief is holding you back? What habits are holding you back?
Challenges in life are an opportunity to let go of the things (thoughts, habits, resentments..etc.) that are NOT serving us and discover who we were always meant to be.