The Unfair Weight of Old Baggage

Becoming Better Together!

The Unfair Weight of Old Baggage

We all know that our past shapes who we are today; it's a constant evolution influenced by our daily, monthly, and yearly experiences. While we each go through varying degrees of life events from subtle "aha" moments to the most heart-stopping challenges and celebrations, the important thing is to lean into the positive and cherish the good times. We need to recognize the past for what it is, the past, and not let it unfairly burden our present lives.

So why do I bring this up?

I often see people use their past as an excuse for a less-than-stellar future, saying things like, "I can't do this because when I was younger, I tried and it didn't work," or "I don't have the talent because my parents made it clear it wasn't my strength," or "My parents always struggled with money, so that's all I know." These are thoughts carried from the past into the future, but they usually have no bearing on the present and shouldn't influence your future success.

Another way this manifests is in how we act, interact, and react to situations. If you were stifled as a young adult and not allowed to speak your mind or have an opinion, you might now speak too often, interrupt others, and talk more than you listen. You're making up for lost time and missed opportunities to express yourself during conversations. This can cause [read more]