FINISHING STRONG, 2; THE PAST

"Yesterday is in the tomb, tomorrow is in the womb, but today is within your thumb." - Pst. Ed

With the introduction to 10 Ps' to Finishing strong out of the way - yesterday's topic. Let me begin proper now. Quickly, we'll delve into the first of the 10 Ps' today.

The very first P talks about “the PAST”. In my many years as a life coach, trainer and counselor. I have had countless experiences of people walking up to me seeking counsel on issues that have seemingly put a stop to their progress in life and destiny. Most narrate their ordeal with so much passion, that I sometimes believe these issues happened a few minutes before I met them, or days before. But, usually I find it shocking to discover, by their information, that what they whine about to me are experiences of decades or more earlier.

The sad truth is that, these people desire to make progress into the future, but refuse to let go of the past.

One man said to his friend, "Say. You look depressed. What are you thinking about?" he asked.

"My future," was the quick reply.
"What makes it look so hopeless?" he asked his friend again.
"My past." was the curt reply.

Isn't this the way a lot of us live our lives? With a terrible fear of the future, simply because of past events. Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?" You do not move ahead by constantly looking in a rear. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor to stagnate you. We must learn from the past but not live in the past.

I am not in anyway trying to undermine the effect and impact of past experiences. I do agree that the offense might have been great; the hurt deep. I understand that your heart might have been shattered. Or you were probably abused at age nine. Was it betrayal from the people you trusted the most, and all hell was let loose? The simple truth is that, it is all in the past, and if you must finish strong in life and destiny. There is only one thing to do with the PAST, let it remain in the PAST.

You must be able to jettison that weight, so you can gain momentum into the future.