Entry #22: Getting Past Your Past

I used to allow feelings of hatred, self-pity, grief and resentfulness rule my life. I saw therapists and told everyone who would listen to how my past wasn’t fair. Today I am going to give you the key to being free from the prison of your past.

I always quote from the nursery rhyme “Going on a Bear Hunt” that says, “We can’t go around it, we can’t go over it, we’ve got to go through it,” when we decide to face pain. How many years have you been holding onto what happened to you? I decided that I needed to get past my past because I had visions of screaming at the graves of those who broke me. No, it’s not fair what people did to you, but you get to decide how long you will stay broken. 

I was watching Joyce Meyers on YouTube. She shared how she tried to get her husband to pay her back for all the abuse men had done to her. This resonates with me because if I don’t let go of what my abusers did to me and they pass away, I might as well be in the ground with them. Why? Because they can’t pay me back for what they did when they’re gone. They can’t even pay you back if they are living. They might not even think they did anything wrong! Also, are you making people pay you back that have nothing to do with your past? If so, you will miss out on relationships because people don’t want to be around a controlling, miserable person.

I had two benign lumps removed from my esophagus due to being upset with severe acid reflux for 30 years. My stomach is inflamed as well. If I stay upset, the people who hurt me won’t experience this with me. They are living life! So, how do you get past your past? It’s a decision. You won’t feel it, but guard your peace by letting go repeatedly until you feel it. Every time you find yourself focused on the negative past, replace it with a positive memory. I promise you that this will change your life!

 

Stephanie Preston creates powerful, humorous videos on managing bipolar disorder symptoms. She is a Social Service Worker, Health Care Aide and suffers from severe bipolar depression herself. She is the proud wife of St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston, loves being a grandma and is Crossfit obsessed. Follow her at www.tiktok.com/@bipolaronthebrain and www.facebook.com/bipolaronthebrain.