That's Over With

"When a thing is done, it's done.  Don't look back.  Look forward to your next objective."

- General George C. Marshall

(1880-1959) American Military Leader

How many times have you had to face something you really did not want to deal with, got it done and then thought, "Glad that's over"?  I know I have been there many times.  Most of the time it was not nearly as bad as I thought - or imagined - it would be.  Many times I can quote Mark Twain when he said, "I am an old man and have know a great many troubles, but most of them never happened."

                It is amazing how much time we spend on looking at our troubles of days gone by.  Some are real and some not, but all catch our attention.  The thing is, if we are looking at the past we are not looking to the future.  In dealing with the past and the struggles we have gone through there are a few things you can do to keep it from holding you back.

Remember You Cannot Change, Relive, Or Remove The Past

                Let's make this simple, you can do nothing about the past.  It happened and you cannot make it un-happen.  Yes, you can correct mistakes made, but you cannot remove them.  You can seek and give forgiveness, but you cannot take it back.  Once we have accepted that the past is gone, we can let it go and move on.  Learn from mistakes, make right what you can, but move forward and do not allow the past to steal your future.

See The Past As Education

                We can always learn from what we have done or experienced.  The past teaches us what works and what does not.  But the fact that we learn from it does not mean we have to set up camp there.  Education is a ongoing process.  It has movement to moves us forward, not backward.  We can become better for the lessons learned.  Those who dwell in the past do not allow the past to change them.  We can learn from the words of Abraham Lincoln who said, "I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday."

The Past Cannot Move, You Have To

                Do not expect the past to move away from you.  The past is frozen in time and does not move or change or disappear.  You must take the responsibility to move forward and leave the past where it is.  Success only comes through action.  Action only comes when we are moving.  Action is a force that cannot stand still.  Action has no reverse gear, it can only move forward.  Those who would succeed in life are those who can move forward and allow the past to be in their rear view mirror.

To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey