This past weekend I attended my high school reunion. Often I hear people say high school was the best time of their life, or the worst time of their life. For me, it was just a time in my life. I have come to understand that all my experiences have coalesced to form the person I am now… today… in this moment.
Some classmates chose not to attend. They didn’t want to see the “cliques”, deal with the “meanies”, or go “back there.” While this is definitely their choice, I chose the path of freedom. These folks are holding on to so much from the past. There is a great saying by Eleanor Roosevelt: “You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.” Another great quote I love is: “What other people think of you is none of your business.” by Wayne Dyer.
Now while these quotes may sting at first until you understand them, the basic gist is it is time to let go! I see it as power. I have power I can apply to my success, my business, my dear friends and family. Why would I want to waste a drop of that power on someone who may have said something hurtful in the past who probably doesn’t even remember saying it and who does not have any effect in my day to day life? Let go and move on! I know I am quite a different person now than I was in high school. My growth has been leaps and bounds. It’s not fair to hold others to episodes from years past, especially when you most likely have not talked with them since high school!
Take your power back! Live in this moment right now. Now the next logical question is how? I like The Sedona Method (www.sedona.com). It is a structured process of experiencing emotions and releasing them, giving you more room to fill up on present moments and joys. The basic method is to:
- Welcome the feelings. Really feel them. Feel the discomfort, the sadness, the weight of it. This will reassure yourself that you don’t want to feel this way on an on-going basis!
- Ask yourself: Could I let this go? Are you willing release these harbored emotions?
- Ask yourself: Will I let this go? While similar to the previous question there is a great nuance here. Simply “could” I let this go may be an easier answer than acknowledging you are ready emotionally to let go of emotions that really do not serve you. These emotions often become a false security blanket in our subconscious mind.
- Ask yourself: When will I let this go? There is no better time than NOW! Does holding these emotions that cause you anxiety and sadness serve you? I doubt you can say yes to that one!
Notice the title of this blog is Revisiting the Past, not Reliving the Past. High school has come and gone. The reunion was a time to check in with classmates and see what they are up to, how their families are doing, and what activities they have been doing. There were many more bonds formed as we have lived a lot of years since high school. It was a great experience. It was a blessing to get to enjoy the event from the perspective of today.
If you are living in the past, being held back by old baggage and emotions, think about releasing them. Empower yourself to live in the present moment. Instead of living your life from an old outdated chapter, write your life anew each day. You have the power!
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