Esperanza Hope To Cope: How To Learn From The Past WITHOUT Getting Lost In It

by Carol L. Rickard

Last week, I shared a LifeTOOL to use for avoiding regrets. I promised to talk this week about how to learn from our decisions and grow.

During the past 25 years of helping people, I’ve discovered there are two places people have a tendency to get lost.

They are…

The Past & The Future

The unfortunate cost of this is, if we are in one of these two places – we are then not present  in TODAY!

Here’s a quote I came up with for my patients:

             ‘What-if’s’ get us lost in the future, ‘Why’s’ get us lost in the past.

How we can learn from our past without getting lost in it comes down to being able to look back but stay in the present  – stay in TODAY!

Here’s the LifeTOOL I created to help my patients be able to do this:

Being able to reflect gives us an opportunity to learn from our past without getting lost in it!

So, you might be thinking: ‘That’s great Carol, but how do I do that?’

Here’s how:

1. Take a piece of paper and write the current date in really big letters in the center at the top of the page.
2. Below that on the left-hand side, write the situation or decision you’d like to reflect on  & underline it.
3. Ask yourself this question: “Is there anything I would do different TODAY?” If so, write down what you would do differently TODAY.

By following these steps, you are able to look back and learn yet most importantly, stay present & anchor yourself in TODAY! 

Let me know your thoughts in the comment box below!

~ To Living Well TODAY! ~

 

via Esperanza – Hope To Cope
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