“The past has no power over the present moment.”
~ Eckhart Tolle.
Why do we have such a difficult time letting go of the past? I can’t count how many days I have spent replaying conversations and scenarios over and over in my head from 20 years ago. I can’t change the outcome; I can’t create a new dialogue; it’s done! So why is this a common problem for so many people? Is it our need to be right? Is it the little voice from the ego trying to give it a new spin and reaffirm you are an even bigger loser?
I spent almost twenty years of my life living in the past and feeling the pain of dreadful relationships stinging the walls of my heart all over again. I can assure you, I am not a masochistic person, but I could not let go of some of these old tapes, no matter how hard I tried. The past became my identity in the present. After many years of reading and studying great masters of self –help and awakened consciousness, I finally figured this out: “The past has no power over the present moment.”
Now when I listen to women talk and they start describing something that happened six months ago that is creating awful pain for them today, I can reason with them intelligently that it has no bearing on who they are. At first they don’t get it but as they look at me with wide eyes like a deer in the headlights, it hits them. “The past has no power over the present moment.” They are not defined but that nasty divorce, or the huge blow up they had with a fellow employee. It has no bearing on who they are as a human being. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. Our past mistakes have nothing to do with who we are today.
My past is littered with awful mistakes that I made. Many of them caused me sleepless nights. Being able to put it all into perspective empowers me now. I understand my mistakes, I have learned from them. They are not my best buddies anymore; I don’t need to carry them around. I can honestly admit that I caused my own suffering for many years by holding on to old stuff that blocked my true sense of self and my reality.
How do you unclutter your present moment by releasing painful thoughts from the past?
I would love to hear from you.
Mal Duane is a certified Personal Life Coach with more than 23 years in recovery from alcoholism, who has overcome devastating life challenges using the steps in the Alpha Chick Process. Her personal mission is to help women excel in all areas of their lives from business to personal relationships and attract that which they most desire, as she has, through a connection to the divine power within. Her book Alpha Chick, Five Steps for Moving from Pain to Power is coming in February 2012.
Be sure to subscribe to this blog for regular Alpha Chick updates and invitation to the Alpha Chick telesummit coming soon.
