Break Free From Your Past, Embrace Your Future

We are all products of our past. No one grew up in a vacuum.  A large percentage of our struggles today are rooted in our past experiences.Every child is born with dreams, but the cares and troubles of life can make us not to bring forth our dreams. We fail to fulfill our purpose if we are held hostage by past negative experiences. Lack of freedom from our past is like walking backwards towards our destiny. Letting go of your past creates space for new experiences in your life. Past negative experiences act like a gate or a wall that keep us on the other side of our destiny.

In our past is the source of our insecurities, fears, anxieties, and other unmet emotional needs. Neuroscientists have proven that our experiences, whether positive or negative, rewire our brains to function a certain way. For example,  uncontrolled anger is often times rooted in either mistreatment by others while growing up or holding on to painful experiences that we have never let go. Unforgiveness can lead to anger, resentment, and bitterness. Some of our struggles are from no fault of our own, but are based on the environment in which we grew up.

Because of our past experiences, we find ourselves relating to others based on what we know. Values are passed over from generation to generation. It's important to discover who you are, your past, and what characteristics or behaviors might be rooted in your past. Do you spend uncontrollably? This is often rooted in growing in an environment of poverty and lack. It can also result from growing up in a family where children's emotional needs were met with material things, instead of adults spending quality time with the children. You therefore find yourself spending uncontrollably in an effort to subconsciously meet an unmet emotional need.

Do you have a problem with anger? Anger is often times rooted in childhood abuse, trauma, or neglect, which leads to developing unhealthy attachment pattern with a caregiver. As a result, a child internalizes anger. Often times, anger manifests itself to those closest to us.

Do you find yourself struggling with low self-esteem? Self esteem is your sense of self-worth. Do I feel like I matter? Will people listen to me? Is what I say important? Will others value my contributions? Am I as smart as everyone else? Low self-esteem can lock our purpose in the inside of us and make our full potential to never come into manifestation.  

Words are very powerful. Low self-esteem is rooted in words spoken to us but those we valued the most. They may be teachers, parents, older siblings, friends or other trusted adults. Because we valued these relationships, the words they spoke to us carried a lot of weight and have very significant consequences. If you find yourself worrying more about what people will think of you when you say or do something, your self-esteem might be wounded.

Myles Monroe, one of the greatest motivational speakers of our time said that most people die with songs that were never sang, books that were never written, poems that were never read, sermons that were never delivered, businesses that never opened, and careers that never started; since the carriers of these dreams never felt they were good enough to do that which they were created to do or had the potential to do.

Take a moment and reflect on words that others spoke to you that were hurtful. Ask God (a higher power) to take away this pain and to heal your wounded emotion. Then forgive and let go. Enjoy and be grateful for today. Tomorrow is not promised for any of us.

Seeking help from a licensed professional can help you heal from past trauma and other negative experiences and can help  promote healing and bring joy back into your life.

Healing Streams Counseling has Master’s Level Licensed Professional Counselors, with advanced training in Trauma Therapy who can help you find healing from past traumatic experiences, and bring joy and happiness back into your life. Healing Streams Counseling – 314-643-7444

By Damaris Karanja, MA, MEd, LPC, RDN, a licensed Mental Health Professional Counselor and Registered Dietitian at Healing Streams Counseling.