I’ve seen some fabulously talented people kill their careers by lingering in the past – and they didn’t even know they were doing it.
Are you (unconsciously) clinging to some past glory or failure? If you are, it’s keeping you from living up to your fullest potential today.
You need to be able to let go, acknowledging failures and successes, learning from them and moving on. I’m not talking about denying the past. I’m talking about not letting it hold you down.
Ask yourself these questions:
1) After an important conversation or meeting, do you spend a lot of time rehashing what was said and what you could have done differently?
2) Do you find yourself wishing you could go back in time and change something you did or said?
3) Do you hold a grudge?
4) Do you feel you missed an opportunity for happiness or success that you can never regain?
5) Do you feel you’ve passed your peak?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, it’s a warning bell that you might be lingering in the past. Start paying closer attention to how much importance and focus you place on past events.
When you catch yourself lost in the past, gently shift your focus to the present. Remind yourself that the present is the only thing you can change. Remind yourself that it’s ok to let go.
Need to let go of the past. Check out Lisa’s book Practices to Master the Art of Thriving.