15 tips to leave your past behind and look positively into the future 💫

Stumbling in front of a crowd, a black-out during a presentation or a bad break-up. - We have all been there and done that! 🙈

When we experience embarrassing moments, a bad breakup, or even traumatic events, these memories can remain with us and cause emotional pain that disrupts our quality of life sustainably.

Especially fighting traumatic memories, can feel intense, as they seem to take over our whole body. They, for instance, can occur in the form of visual flashbacks, lead to headaches, sweating, stomach aches and feelings of weakness.

But what exactly do we mean by the term trauma? 🤔

The American Psychological Association defines trauma as an emotional response to a terrible event that can lead to long-term effects on your mental health, relationships, and physical well-being. 😔

Traumatic memories manifest in three ways: emotional responses, cognitive responses, and physical responses.

It’s important to understand, that our emotions and memory are linked, and that painful experiences can be stored as traumatic memories.

Nevertheless, there is hope! - Negative experiences can be reframed to focus on the positive aspects of life that in turn create a more healthy brain functioning. 🧠

Let’s dive a bit deeper! …

First of all, you should be patient with yourself. To heal, you need time to reflect on past experiences, acknowledge and express your emotions. A good point to start could be practicing mindfulness, gratitude and positive affirmations. 🙏🏼

Moreover, you could find support through loved ones, like-minded people, that are going through similar situations or thorough professional help, like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Finally, it’s important to focus on creating new memories and finding activities that bring you joy. 😌

Let’s make it concrete! …

Here are 15 steps that will help you during the process of overcoming the past and moving on with your life:

👉🏼 Acknowledge the past: Recognize that the past is a part of your life, but it doesn't define who you are.

👉🏼 Accept your feelings: Allow yourself to feel the emotions that come with your past experiences. Don't try to suppress or ignore them.

👉🏼 Forgive yourself: It's essential to forgive yourself for any mistakes or regrets you may have from the past.

👉🏼 Let go of blame: Stop blaming yourself or others for what happened in the past.

👉🏼 Reframe the past: Change your perspective of the past and see it as an opportunity for growth and learning.

👉🏼 Focus on the present: Shift your focus to the present moment and the things that bring you joy and fulfillment.

👉🏼 Take responsibility: Take responsibility for your present and future. You have the power to create the life you want.

👉🏼 Practice self-care: Take care of yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally.

👉🏼 Set goals: Set achievable goals for yourself and work towards them.

👉🏼 Surround yourself with positive people: Surround yourself with people who encourage and support you.

👉🏼 Find new hobbies and interests: Explore new hobbies and interests that bring you joy and fulfillment.

👉🏼 Volunteer: Give back to your community by volunteering your time and skills.

👉🏼 Seek professional help: Seek the help of a professional therapist or counselor if you're struggling to move on.

👉🏼 Learn from the past: Take the lessons you've learned from the past and use them to make positive changes in your life.

👉🏼 Practice gratitude: Focus on the things in your life that you are grateful for and appreciate them.

In conclusion, moving on from the past is not easy, but possible and necessary to develop a growth mindset. By taking the above mentioned steps, you can free yourself and live a happier and more fulfilling life. Remember that healing is a process, and it takes time, so be patient and kind to yourself along the way. 🤗

If you feel like the exchange with likeminded people could help you, feel free to join our whylab community and share your experiences with your peers!

By the way: Your first whylab session is completely free of charge! - Let’s give it a try. You won’t regret it, I promise! 💙