Most of us may be aware of sayings that speak to the fact that we are a product of all our experiences. So the good, the bad and the ugly that have happened to us have shaped us into who we are today. However, and although we might be products of our past, are there experiences that have bound us, or crippled us, from which we cannot escape? Are they still looming and ever present in our lives?

There seems to be a fine line between being a product of our past, and being a prisoner of it. Yes, who we are and how we perceive and respond to situations will be shaped by our past. And yes, our past would have provided us with valuable experiences from which we would have gained wisdom, and also hopefully, would also have learnt valuable lessons.

Being a prisoner of our past suggests that there are still raw wounds, still unaddressed issues and traumas, that have not been fully processed. To be fair, some of our past experiences were difficult, to put it mildly; but the onus is still on us to do the work (with expert assistance as needed), in order to process those traumas, so that we are in a position to live our best and most fulfilling lives.

 

Throughout the day, we invite you to revisit this quote. Below are a few questions you may wish to ask yourself, and those who journal may find them especially useful:

• Have I made peace with the fact that I am a product of my past?
• Am I still a prisoner of some of my past experiences?
• If yes, why haven’t I made peace with those past experiences?
• What do I think I need to do to start to reconcile myself with those past experiences, so that they were no longer hold me prisoner?

 

 

Best wishes, and have a great day!