The past is always behind you. Be forward looking. Focus on positive messages and habits that can change your life, not on the past negative messages that darken your past.
Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the left side, write Things that block my success, and on the right side write Things that keep me going. In the right column, list the personal strengths that have allowed you to make it through life through every obstacle. My own list of strengths included my faith, thoughts of the people in my family who had overcome long odds from the 1800s to present, successes in track and field, and acquiring an education. You certainly have as many or more such strengths. Acknowledge them. Here is an ideal place to list ten victories that you’ve accomplished over your lifetime. Now, speak them out loud. They will help when you question your self-worth.
Now on the left side under Things that block my success, list the obstacles that have hindered you. Some of my own obstacles included fear of abandonment, low self-esteem, and anger.
The left side showed me the things I had to work on in order to move into forgiveness. The right side showed me the things that would allow me to get there.
Remember the past is behind you. It’s time to embrace the strengths that you’ve listed above.