Ever hear someone talk about their past accomplishments? It’s as if the top of the mountain was the end. The decline follows, and then acceptance later.
Constant reliance on victories of the past leaves us with a damaged ego. We begin to reach for more. At some point or another, we all have to face this debacle. This confrontation from our past self. Who are you?
Former glory.
We hear all the wonderful quotes about keeping your eyes forward, not looking back, always having a goal in mind. But when the past looks so pretty, how can we not wonder if we’re losing at life a little bit?
There’s a challenging recognition there. This idea that we just might not be aging like fine wine after all. It tempts us in our conversations. It tempts us in getting to know other people.
We want them to know who we used to be.
The things we’ve been through — our past accomplishments — these things have built us into the person we are!
But if we can just find a way to see past that fear. To see that insecurity for what it is — we’re scared that our best years are behind us. We’re afraid that we’ve actually already lived life.
That doesn’t have to be the case.
Instead there emerges this beautiful opportunity to become something we haven’t been before. To become a version of ourselves that hasn’t existed yet.
Obviously it doesn’t happen over night, and that’s overrated anyway.
The ability to overlook our previous endeavors for an unknown tomorrow is truly an accomplishment worth achieving. Yesterday’s person will always be there, eventually buried in the past so far that you don’t remember who that person is anymore.
Our former self is a reminder that it is just that — a former.
A constant focus on what once was, robs us of our ability to develop ourselves in the present. It turns courage into a coward. It causes bravery to seek shelter. Confidence becomes insecure.
You are not what you did. You are not who you used to be. You are new today. You are a half percent different than you were yesterday.
Take advantage of that.