Why You Should Hold On To The Past
And thank it for moulding you into the person you are today.
The other day while scrolling on my phone, I came across a thought-provoking statement. It said, “To move forward, you have to let go of the past.”
Sometimes, life demands us to let go of a few strings we continue to grasp as we move forward. Letting go of these strings can be liberating. But, a part of me that still smiles in the middle of a chaotic day when the feeling of going outside to play as a kid visits again screams that holding memories from the past close to you may not always be a bad thing.
The phrase ‘holding on to the past’ accompanies negative emotions and memories you wish you don't get to relive again. On the flip side though, some of these experiences lay the foundation of your life and define who you are now hence there is no harm in reminiscing them from time to time.
Your past should not be a heavy stone tied to your waist as you move forward in life. It should be a story that has led you to where you are right now. Be proud of that story.
All it takes is a perspective shift.
All it takes is for you to see that light and shade co-exist in this journey.
All it takes is a belief that while the past has power to pull you down if you let it, it also has the power to push you up if you let it.
Since we are in a reflective zone in the first week of new year, I encourage you to write down the memories (good and bad) you still hold onto and one good thing that came out of them. Let us thank those memories for giving us clarity, peace and redirection when we needed it the most.
Some things or memories from the past I still hold on to:
The memory of an old me who experienced her first big failure a year and a half ago as a reminder for my present self that a beautiful life awaits on the other side of it.
The shells I collected on my first few visits to the beach as a reminder of how much travelling excites me.
Class photographs of grades 10 and 12 to honour all the friendships that bloomed at the time, even though some of them got lost in the way.
A memory from 2018 when I achieved something big but chose to feel like a failure because I “wanted” more as a reminder to accept the unknown with grace and gratitude for all that was gained, instead of only focusing on what was lost.
My journals that I can revisit anytime I need advice from my old self.
Photo prints of my favourite corners in my parent’s house that is currently being reconstructed as a reminder that it will continue to be a space where I feel safest, even though it may not look the same ever again.
My first time celebrating Christmas in 2024 as a reminder to be appreciative of the time I have gotten with my loved ones on this planet.
The few weeks leading up to starting my newsletter, when I questioned my writing skills and feared being judged by acquaintances, as a reminder that the fulfilment experienced from following your passion outweighs the negativity received any day. So, don’t give up because you never intended to please anyone else but yourself by doing what you love.
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I hold on to a huge amount of the past; I find it offers a reassuring sense of continuity. That said, I think there are things I’ve had to let go of, but I tend to think of it as making peace with them ✨🌿
Wonderful take, Mansi.
I think it's about giving yourself space to grow. If you cherish or grab onto things from your past too much, you might miss out on opportunities or feel skeptical about taking a leap.
We should know our past, but growth requires constant changing and reinvention of the self.