Romance the past but avoid adultery
Steve Foran, P.Eng, CSP
I make people happy - AT WORK ! Keynote Speaker, Believer in Grateful Leadership, Author, Certified Master MacKay CEO Forum Chair, Recovering Engineer
Have you ever found yourself reliving old memories and longing for them again ? If so, be careful.
10 years into my career at Nova Scotia Power, it would still come up in casual conversations, “Yea, it’s just not the same here anymore—no Christmas turkey…”?And the person would continue a romantic reflection on the past with a litany of things that had changed. Here’s the thing—the Christmas turkey was almost always the first thing you would hear on their list and what might surprise you, is the company stopped giving out Christmas turkeys more than 10 years before I even worked there !
There’s nothing wrong with loving the past but as one focuses more and more on “the way things were”, the more we narrow our perspective such that we see only the good of yesterday and see only the downside of today. Ultimately clinging to the pleasant aspects of the past wins victorious over the not-so-pleasant realities of one’s current life situation. This is adultery. Yes, adultery because one is cheating on the present.
Whether or not you agree romancing the past through the lens of the green-eyed monster is adultery, bottom line, focusing on what you do not possess, at work or at home, inevitably leads to one condition and one condition only—misery.
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Here’s what I say. Life is short—too short to be miserable. So love your past. Love your present. Love your future.
It’s no secret—the simple recipe for loving the past, present and future lies in practicing gratitude by specifically focusing your grateful attention to all aspects of your life—past, present and future.?
In the coming days and weeks, if you find yourself reliving old memories—that’s ok, so long as you continue to love the memories you’re creating today.
I hope this is a timely reminder. What do you think ?
As always Steve Foran, your words of wisdom hold so many gems for us all. Especially grateful to you for underscoring the value of focusing our grateful attention to all aspects of life—past, present and future. It is a most fitting message during National Stress Awareness Month. #gratefulleadership #nationalstressawarenessmonth #hope
Communications & Public Relations Strategist & Advisor in multiple sectors. Storyteller, Creative, Artist
1 年We have a saying in our family- “Our best days are now.” We still honour and remember the past with great fondness and look to the future with hope and promise but try our best to seize the day.
Interim Director of Campus Programming at Catholic Christian Outreach
1 年Wise words, Steve! This is a very easy trap to fall into.
Regional Manager, Atlantic Canada, Physical Networks & Delivery at RBC
1 年So relevant and easy to get caught up in 'what was' and miss the amazement of 'what is'... Thank you for sharing... not only gratitude at its finest but also speaks to being agile and in leading change with gratitude
Professional Speaker (Invisible Disabilites In the Workplace. Strategic Storytelling) | Speaker Mentor | Author of "Thriving in the Age of Chronic Illness and Invisible Disability"
1 年I remember when I started working for a TV network that had recently moved from Montreal to Toronto. All of the former Montreal employees did nothing but complain how the workplace had been so much better before the move. Frankly I thought the current work environment was fun and relatively easy compared to everywhere else I had worked (the hours were certainly great), but still all the old employees did nothing but complain despite the fact we all had it pretty good.