Letting Go of Your Past So You Can Move Forward to a Brighter Future

Following program Studios Production. Hey everybody, welcome back to another episode, another episode of Weiss's Thoughts. Welcome to my virtual campfire, Grab the beverage of your choice, keep yourself comfortable, and let's spend a little time together and hear what's on my mind, shall we. But before we do that, if you'd like to listen to more episodes of the podcast, make sure you go to Weiss Thoughts dot com w y Cewiss Thoughts dot com. There you can listen to each and every episode of this podcast, comment on any episode that you would like, and so much more. It's all waiting for you at Weiss Thoughts dot com. Also, make sure you visit Purplepittstudios dot com. Check me out on x at Terry Weiss. Also the audio and video production company Weissproductions dot com and the YouTube channel just look for Wife's Thoughts. All right, let's get into today's episode of the podcast. Shaw we welcome, Welcome, one and all, Welcome to Weis's Thoughts. I am Terry, and I am so happy that you've decided to spend some of your valuable time with me. Before we get into today's important topic on the podcast, we are going to do everyone's favorite part of the program. Okay, we gotta do this that time again. It's time for the wordsmith word the Yes, it's time for the wordsmith word of the episode. Where you can impress your friends, impress your colleagues at work, and everyone around you with your vocabulary knowledge. And this week's wordsmith word of the episode, Oh, computer generated voice is azure. One more time. Azure. Azure spelled a d J. You are e, And it is a verb. And the definition of azure is urge or request someone solemnly or earnestly to do something. Let's hear it in a sentence or two, shall we? She assured the jury to carefully consider all of the presented evidence. All right? How about another example? The pastor assured his congregation to donate to those in need. All right, let's hear one more. The founder assured the investors to focus on green initiatives in their new ventures. All right, and that's this week's wordsmith word of the episode. Azure spelled a d J. You are e. It's a verb, urge, a request someone solemnly or earnestly to do something. There you go, Now you're in the know. And you can impress all your friends and neighbors and pets with your wonderful vocabulary, all brought to you by the fine folks here at Weiss's thoughts dot com. All right, let's get into this week's topic of the podcast. Shall we welcome? Welcome one and all again. I am Terry Weiss, and thank you for grabbing a grab a seat around our virtual campfires on this episode and today we're diving into a topic that touches us all letting go of our past so we can move forward to a brighter future. You know, we all we all carry our past with us, don't we. I mean, let's let's come on, let's be honest with ourselves. You know, look an invisible backpack. It's filled with our memories and experiences, triumphs, and let's be honest, quite a few regrets and disappointments. Well, some of these memories serve as a valuable lesson or cherished moments. Others can weigh on us and really, you know, get it gets inside our head and can hinder us and hold us captive and prevent us from truly embracing what lies ahead in our lives. I mean, think about it. Are you still replaying past mistakes in your head? I do this even today, I still do it, and that's why I wanted to talk about it on this episode of the White Thoughts podcast. I mean, are you Are you holding on to grudges or resentments that no longer serve you. Perhaps you're clinging to an old version of yourself or a past identity that doesn't really quite fit with who you are today. So you know, you're not alone. I've struggled with this myself. It's a common human experience, it really is. It's a common human experience. And the thing we have to realize, all right, is that we're just We're all human beings. We're all human beings, and it's just it's just the way things are. What do you do, mister producer with the music? Not messing with the music. But you know, let's talk about this for a second. Why is letting go so hard? Why why can't we release all these old burdens and just move on with our lives. Well, I think I've come up with a few reasons why, at least on my introspective thought process. First, it's the fear, fear of the unknown, I mean, the past even if painful is still familiar to us, it's in some ways morbidly comforting. In the future, it's uncertain. Stepping into it without the old baggage can feel daunting, scary. We might worry about making the same mistakes, or you know, not knowing who will be without that old, familiar narrative from our past. Second, it's our ego. I mean we all have egos, some of us more than others. Sometimes our ego is tied to our past and our past suffering. It could feel like letting go means excusing someone else's behavior or diminishing the pain we experienced. But my friends, letting go isn't about forgetting. It's about freeing ourselves from its ongoing grip. And thirdly, I think it's about unprocessed emotions. And there's a lot of I've talked to a specialists myself. I've talked to a counselor at times in my life. A lot of people are in therapy of one form or another. And if we haven't truly dealt with the emotions tied to certain past events that bug us, such as like sadness, anger, guilt, stuff like that, shame, those feelings can linger, keeping us stuck in just an endless loop. It seems like I've felt that way at times. I have. But here's the thing, the power of acknowledgment and acceptance. I mean this. I came across this doing a little research, and Wow, when I was looking into this and thinking about it, you know, I'm thinking, how do I begin the process of letting go? Well, the first crucial step, according to my research is acknowledge. Acknowledgment. We got to acknowledge and accept. You know it said we can can't release what we don't acknowledge. I mean, think about it. Do this. Take a moment, even now, to mentally identify something from your past that you might be holding on to just go ahead, take a second. It could be a past relationship, or a career setback, a childhood wound, or even a personal failing that you can't forgive your own self for now. Do this. Once you've identified it, acknowledge its impact, don't minimize it or pretend it didn't hurt. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotions arise, whether it's anger, shame, sadness, regret. This isn't about wallowing, It's about processing and then accept it. Just play out accept Hey man, you know what this happened. This shit happened. Acceptance isn't approval. It's simply recognizing the reality of what occurred. It's that simple. This is a powerful act because what it does for us is it shifts us from resisting the past to accepting it its existence, and then it allows us to move beyond it. It's the step toward moving beyond all this. It's very powerful. And yes, my friends, this takes practice. All right. This isn't something we're going to do here in ten or fifteen minutes you say, oh yeah, oh I'm cured, all right, no more problems with my past. No, it's not like that. This takes practice like anything. Because those of us, myself included, that sometimes get stuck in our past and have it hinder our present in our future. We're so used to it. We're just trained into just this is how we process, this is how we do things. This is how we roll, as they say so, changing a behavior, changing a way of interacting with some feelings and emotions. It takes practice, like anything, but the more you do it, the more beneficial and easier it becomes. Let's talk about some additional practical steps that we can take practice forgiveness for others and most importantly, yourself. This is often the biggest hurdle for giving someone who wronged you. It doesn't mean you're condoning their actions. Let me say that again. For giving someone who screwed you over doesn't mean you condone it and you say, yeah, okay, that's cool. No, it doesn't mean you're condoning their actions. It means you're releasing yourself from the burden of anger and resentment. And equally important, you have to forgive yourself. If you've done something in your giving, you know you've done something, said something that you can't forgive yourself for. I mean, hell, come on, people, let's be honest here. We all make mistakes. Okay, we all do. And anybody out there that says, well, no, not really, bullshit. We all make mistakes, some of us daily. But we all make mistakes, all right, we all do it. But the thing is learn from them and then extend yourself the same compassion you would offer your closest, dearest friend or relative or child. Give yourself that same compassion. That's important. Another thing we can do is reframe the narrative our brains storytellers. We're constantly talking to ourselves every day. This is scientifically proven. I've read it in many different types of books, self help books, coaching books, people I've coached with, both professionally and personally. We are always telling ourselves. We have that inner dialogue. All of us have it. Our brains are storytellers. And what story are you telling yourself about your past? Think about that? What story do you tell yourself about something that's bugging you from your past? If it's a story of victimhood or endless regret, can you reframe that? Can you find the lesson learned? Instead of living in the pain in the past and focusing on that, think about this, what lesson is this? Trying to teach me the resilience you've gained or the strength you discovered. For example, instead of I failed at X, try I learned valuable lessons from X that helped me grow. How about that. Another thing we can practice is focusing on the present moment. And this is something I continually struggle with. I'm always thinking five steps ahead or two steps behind a lot of times, and I'm like, oh, just be present. The present is a gift. That's why they call it getting presents present. Being present is a gift. Focus on the present moment. The past exists only in our memories, and the future is a projection. The only blaze we truly have power is in the present. So how can you do that? Practice mindfulness? Engage fully in what you're doing right now. When you catch yourself drifting back to the past, gently bring yourself and your attention back to your breath, your senses, or the task at hand. This builds your present moment muscles. Another thing we can do is create a new experience. Actively engage in creating new positive experiences. When you're constantly living in the new, it naturally pushes out the old. So pick up a new hobby, travel, meet new people, or how about this, We can challenge ourselves in a new way. By doing that, we're creating new memories and experiences and we'll begin to fill up the space previously occupied by the past. And finally, and this one is an important one and something I like you all to remember. Seek support if needed. Sometimes we just can't do it alone. Sometimes the past is too heavy to carry. Don't hesitate to reach out to a trusted friend, a family member, or a professional therapist or counselor Talking through your experiences with someone who can offer an objective perspective can be incredibly powerful and liberating. Don't worry about a stigma. I'll admit it right here. A couple of times in my life I have talked with professionals about feelings and emotions and thought processes and things I was having difficulty processing on my own after trying many different ways. Nothing wrong with that, Nothing wrong with getting third party perspective, no matter which avenue you seek, So as you begin to shed the weight of your past and create new space, vital, expansive space for a brighter future. Remember this isn't about ignoring challenges. It's about approaching them from a place of strength and possibly, rather than being held back old wounds. Take a moment, Let's envision what this brighter future looks like for us. What do you want to achieve? What do you want to become? What kind of life do you want to live? The clearer that we all are on our destination, the easier it becomes for us to let go of anything that prevents you and me from getting there. I mean, it's just common sense. Remember also, my friends, letting go is an ongoing process. This isn't a one time quick fix. There will always be days when old memories creep back in. You know, that's okay. What we do we acknowledge them, and we show ourselves compassion, and then we gently redirect our focus to the present and the future we're all actively working to build. Remember, our past does not define our future. It doesn't. Our past is there to learn from, teach lessons, experience, offer knowledge for ourselves and others, to help others as well. Come on, It's part of the human experience. It's all part of the journey. But the past doesn't need to be our destination. We all have the power to write our own next chapters, unburdened and ready for whatever incredible possibilities lie ahead. I want to thank you for joining me today and Weis's thoughts. If this episode resonated with you, please do me a favor. Would you share it with someone who might benefit and remember the path to a brighter future begins with the courage to let go. Hey, thanks for listening to the program today. I truly appreciate each and every one of you out there, and remember, to see a change in the world, you have to be the change in the world you want to see. It all starts with you, a person looking back at you in the mirror every morning. Remember to be kind to yourself, be kind to others. If you want to tweet at me on Twitter, it's at Terry Weiss. Stop by the website Wis's thoughts dot com just to make sure you spell my name right wys Wiss Thoughts dot com, and hey, leave us a positive rating and review on your favorite podcast provider. Won't you tell your friends, tell your family, tell your pets about wife's thoughts, and I look forward to gathering yet again around the virtual campfire with you real soon. Take care,