As we go through life, we accrue experiences and enjoy both wins and losses. Not everyone starts with the same deck, and as such it’s important to be mindful that everyone has a story before we feel tempted to judge them.
When the years pass, the chance of experiencing tough situations, making mistakes, and experiencing memories you would rather be without will take place, even to those we would consider lucky. This is a tough fact of life, and everyone has to go through it to some degree, or at least care about someone who has.
But letting the tough lessons of your past inform your future can be a good way to act like a prism, turning one form of light into a full spectrum of insights. But how can we achieve that without ruminating on the bad experiences we’ve had to the point where we can’t make any progress?
In this post, we’ll discuss how to let the tough lessons of your past inform your future, without being defined by who you were or what happened to you, and instead realizing you are the person who has grown from all that and can step forward with pride. Let’s get started:
Learn What To Avoid, But Also What To Appreciate
It can be unfortunate to say, but sometimes there’s just no lesson we can learn apart from understanding what to avoid in the future. For example, trying to keep up with friends who judge one another and constantly compete against each other can feel toxic and relatively loveless to take part in, and it’s only when we meet a supportive friend that we realize all of our efforts are in vain.
However, this can help us gain a real appreciation for what true friendship is, and now you know never to take that lightly, and never to try and impress people who wouldn’t support you when it comes time to do so. This is what many people find out when in troubled times or perhaps undergoing a life change like becoming pregnant – the number of friends you have tends to diminish, but the quality of your remaining friendships becomes much deeper and much more authentic.
Learn The Value Of A Simple Life
Difficult lessons from our past can teach us that sometimes, living with humility, in moderation, and peacefully is not such a raw deal. While it may not be as exciting as living the high life it can provide stability, safety, and growth.
This is why many people who have undergone mistreatment or harsh experience see the texture of a normal life more clearly, and feel more secure within it. While chasing your dreams and taking steps towards the life you wish to build can be a fantastic and inspiring process, that’s also aided by stability in your days, even if that just means a simple job for now, and a simple place to stay with those you love. Having this baseline to return to can be a great means of finding stability after a tough past, helping you heal and grow properly.
Take The Help & Aid You Have Available
It’s not always easy to go it alone, but you may not need to, at least 100% of the time. Asking for help from your friends and relatives is not a sign of weakness, but of strength, because only those who dismiss others will never see the value of their help. Even asking your parents to look after your child for a night so you can go and blow off some steam with a friend can help reset your outlook, and remind you to never take what you have for granted.
In some cases, more official aids can help you get your life back together, such as taking time to get a hardship license so you can commute back and from work after losing your standard driving pass for now.
Take Absolutely Nothing For Granted
Tough pasts always seem to remind people of one thing – to never take anything for granted, and to do their best to see that even the most difficult of times can be learned from. It’s a healthy way to see the world, and allows you some control over the narrative you live with.
It will also help you take pride in the small victories you make from day to day, which can be tremendously powerful in building positive forward momentum.
With this advice, you’re sure to let the tough lessons of your past inform your future, in the best possible way.
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