Don't allow the past to determine the future

Everyone has a story and a past. Some are worse than others. You cannot change things which are in the past but you can change the part they play in your future. In one way or another, past experiences have helped to shape the people we are today.

Past events have influenced our present situation in many different ways. The past has brought us to the area where we live, it has dictated the kind of work we are qualified to do and has been a factor in all aspects, big and small, of how we live our lives today.

Humans by nature are flawed so no matter what your parents did or didn't do, past does not define your future. To hold on to anger, resentment, or negative thoughts about the past only keeps you stuck. You become a victim of your past.

Often, we use our past as an excuse to keep ourselves from pursuing what we really want out of life. I know it's hard to believe but your past or even present circumstances do not define who you are as a person.

Future

At any point it's your choice to make a change in your life. Sometimes the worst things that happen to us often teach us the biggest lessons in life. Even if you had a storybook past this would have taught you more of how you would like your future to be.

If you allow yourself to be present and aware of this very moment you will notice that the past is just another chapter in your journey. The future is within your control not the past.

There are people who have experienced traumatic events in the past.

These events have directly influenced their present circumstances but the extent of the effect the past will have on the future is within each person's control. A traumatic, tragic or even a mildly unfortunate beginning in life does not automatically mean that is how the rest of your life must be lived.

A person's history might reveal that he was brought up by alcoholic parents who neglected his education. He will tell you this is the reason he obtained no academic qualifications and today does low paid manual work.

This is factual information but, if this person goes on to tell you that the events of his past are the reason he will never achieve much in life, he is using the past as an excuse.

He is depriving himself of the future he could have if he would let go of the past. From the position of blaming your past for your present condition, it is easy to slip into laziness or even an attitude of cringing self-pity.

Success

You often hear people blaming childhood deprivations for the fact that they have no hope of achieving anything noteworthy in life.

These people live in an attitude of helplessness and hopelessness when, in fact, they have as much chance as anybody else of achieving success if they would stop thinking about the past and allowing it to fill them with negativity.

Evidence of the fact that the past need not dictate the future can be found in the life stories of many great achievers. Think of the wealthy businessmen, leading sportsmen, great scientists, movie icons, super models and entrepreneurs in all walks of life.

Did they all achieve success, fame and wealth because they came from a privileged background? Did they all have caring parents, a superior education and limitless financial backing? If you study their life stories you will find the answer is no.

Goals

Many of these successful people started life in an ordinary or even underprivileged style but they achieved success because they freed themselves from the constraints imposed by the past. Don't use your past as an excuse.

To prevent your past from defining your future, you need to put it firmly where it belongs - behind you, in the past, a memory with no power to influence your future. Don't make the mistake of using your past as the reason or excuse for your failure to achieve your goals.

The past might have led you to where you are now, but it cannot reach out and hold you back unless you let it. It's time to live the life you want and not the one anyone tells you to live whether its your parents, friends or the media.

You don't need justification to pursue the type of life you see fit for yourself. Your past only defines your future when you give it power.

You and only you have the power to change your life. You need to be the author of your own book and not allow circumstances, anything or anyone to stand in your way of making that book the best seller of you. It is easy to blame your origins for your failures but it is just as easy to turn your back on your past and create a successful future.

You don't have to change anything apart from your own outlook. By thinking differently, you can steer your future in the direction you want to go.

By refusing to think negatively and filling yourself with a positive attitude, you can achieve any goal you set for yourself. Learn from your past, rejoice in the present and be excited for what the future may hold for you.

There is a world of possibility waiting for you to take it.