Looking Back to the Past: Should We or Shouldn't We?

Do you ever find yourself revisiting your past more than you should or taking a walk down memory lane, only to realize your thoughts have taken up residence in a not so favorable moment in time? I am definitely guilty of it and if you are a participant of the human race, I am sure you are as well. It’s almost inevitable not to reflect on the past, but it is the manner in which you choose to do so that makes all the difference. Personally speaking, looking back on the past for me consisted of a whole inimical experience. When I looked back, my attention was focused on the times that may have brought despair, frustration about an outcome or the pain someone may have caused even if I had forgiven them. However, I arrived to a place where I recognized how counterproductive looking back really was. It took growth. It took faith!

I confidently no longer look in the past (well, at least not in that way), but rather live in the moment. Yes, it easy to say don’t look back and focus your attention toward the future, which is all very relevant. But as it relates to me, I try to remain in the present as much as I possibly can, because that is the only time that is guaranteed to me. I know that sounds sooooo cliché, but where is the lie? Don’t me wrong, it is ok to plan for the future, we are expected to, but not so much that you are missing out on where you currently are in life or what is in front of you; overlooking what may be doing today. Listen, Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt after she looked back at Sodom in the book of Genesis. She took her eyes off of what was in front of her to look back to see all that was being consumed and it ended up ultimately consuming her. Lesson? Yeah, maybe!

In the few thousand times, I have looked back to my past over the years, what I did not do was look back with intentional purpose; a purpose of true benefit. The past can be one of your greatest teachers if you exercise the opportunity to learn from every situation, circumstance, test and trial, but the caveat is being sure you still push ahead, which I talk about a bit more in detail in my post, Its’ a New Year, Now What? Also, when you look back with good intent, there is a level of amazingness and encouragement when you are able to see how God has shown up for you in the past and has proven to you how faithful He truly is.  

One other quick aspect that sat with me while thinking about this topic was how other people can hang your past over your head. Even if you are not trying to travel down that dark treacherous road, we have folks out there that want to force us on that backward journey. This is extremely unfortunate because whether it was an unwelcomed circumstance, an unsavory behavior you may have displayed or just a way of being that didn’t serve you well or others, the point is, if that is not your story today than it should not be presented to you…period! People do not understand how hanging the past over someone’s head is unfair and even worse, it keeps individuals in bondage, which is a very real thing. So, do not permit others to look back for you; keep growing!

Overall, my hope is that this post encourages you to revel in the discoveries that have been encountered and gain meaningful insight from them rather than dwelling on past mistakes, events or failures. Taking that deep dive does so much more harm than good and to be clear, it just does not align with living your best life!!!