"Allow yourself to live without yesterday's burdens on your mind and it will make today a more pleasant experience. I realize that, at times, past experiences may appear as realistic representations, but they are not real now. They are merely memories. Don't you see that holding on to such harmful memories and feelings - and constantly retrieving them from the archives of your mind so that you can revisit them - holds you a prisoner of your now departed past?" - The Enlightened Gardener - Sydney Banks
A common theme among the Three Principles community is the idea that it is not beneficial, and downright harmful, to dig up past painful memories. When we go back into our memories and constantly think about those painful memories we all have so we can try to "figure it out" and "make sense" of our past, it keeps those memories alive and keeps us feeling down, depressed, ashamed, etc.
The past no longer exists. Five minutes ago no longer exists and ten minutes from now doesn't exist either. All that exists is the present moment. We have to "think" ourselves out of the present moment. I can tell you this. You will never make sense of your past and you will never be able to reframe it enough or figure it out enough to feel okay with it. Going into the past to revisit those painful memories will only bring you harm.
As the quote above says "constantly retrieving them (memories) from the archives of your mind so that you can revisit them - holds you a "prisoner" of your now departed past".
Understand that your past can't hurt you unless you give it permission. Your past can't cause you stress, anxiety, worry, fear, dread, etc. Only our thoughts cause us to feel whatever emotion it is that we are experiencing. It's not the "content" of our thoughts that matter. What matters is that we think. Sydney Banks called thought the "missing link". Once you truly understand that your thoughts create your reality you will find yourself having more peace and wellbeing on a day to day basis and you'll realize that you never really did anything. You didn't have a ten step plan or a list of things you "have to do" everyday in order to feel at peace and have wellbeing. There is nothing you ned to do, learn, master, or spend an inordinate amount of time doing. It will just come. Enjoy it. Enjoy the moment. Stay there as long as you can.
I'll say it one more time. Your past can't hurt you unless you give it permission.
Until next time,
Jackson
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