The Tribune

By SPENCE FINLAYSON

“Everybody’s got a past. The past does not equal the future unless you live there.”

– Tony Robbins

LETTING go of the past is one of the most difficult things to do in our lives. Letting go allows us to live in the golden now and to experience life to the fullest. When we are not fully present in the now, we are imprisoned.

The book “A Course In Miracles” says, “You cannot really not let go of what has already gone. It must be, therefore, that you are maintaining the illusion that it has not gone, because you think it serves some purpose that you want fulfilled.”

Let go of the past. The past is yesterday. A writer once said, “Yesterday is a cancelled cheque, tomorrow is a promissory note, but today well lived, is ready cash.”

Letting go also means letting go of anger. Sometimes we hold resentments against people we feel have wronged us and this becomes very destructive.

This self-destruction can take a variety of forms like addiction to drugs and alcohol, eating disorders, toxic relationships or not being able to hold down a job. This is where forgiveness comes in. It is so easy to tell someone else that they need to forgive a perceived wrong. It is easy to say, “I forgive you”, but still continue to hold on to the resentment. We have to come to grips with the reality that to forgive means to “give for.”

The act of forgiveness is a part of our own healing process. In order for us to feel complete we must forgive. Forgiveness is for you, for your growth and peace of mind.

The book of Matthew puts it this way: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you.” Words to live by!

Lynn Grabhorn says in her book “The Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting Playbook”, rather than denying or stuffing your past, go ahead and look at it, but without judgement.

Look at it, express it, admit it, acknowledge it, accept it and move on. In other words, let your past become something that is simply a matter of fact. That’s all. Express your disappointment, your regret, your anger, and then let it go! If you don’t you will continue to draw to you the very events that you are still resenting and regretting.”

In order for you to be more present in the here and now you need to become complete with whatever issue is affecting you. Getting complete means that at any given moment you are a complete individual not dependent on your past, your situations or what others think of you. I personally find the serenity prayer very helpful: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

When we let go of everything that is not positive, we become free spiritual beings. This ‘letting go’ must include limiting beliefs and toxic people. Letting go of the past means cleaning out my closet of false belief systems and thought patterns that no longer work for me. I regularly take a personal inventory to assess my strengths and weaknesses.

I continue to develop my strengths and try to eliminate most of my weaknesses. It is not easy but I know that I am a work in progress, my creator is not finished with me as yet.

Let go of what you are holding so tightly in your life and allow God permission to handle the situation. Let go of fear, doubt, anxiety, worry, and limiting beliefs. The past is the past and, remember, “the past does not equal the future”. You must learn to live in the golden now.

• Spence M Finlayson is the founder and CEO of The Phoenix Institute For Positive Development, a human resources development firm based in Nassau. He can be reached at 601-6162 or by e-mail at phoenixinstitute@gmail.m. His website is spencefinlayson.com.