There are things that once suited us, clothes, attitudes, ways of thinking, among other things. But today we can no longer have them because they do not serve us rather they are a hindrance to our progress. It is useless to live bitterly remembering all the unfair things that some people did to us, or to accurately recount the list of abuses and offenses because that will not let us breathe or enjoy life. One day I realized that there were people living in my head without paying rent, draining my energy, stealing my time. And I decided to evict them from my mind, to make room to think about more productive things. Today I bring a small list of things that for our physical and mental health it is better that we leave them behind.
1- Guilt
We have all made mistakes, but we cannot carry them around, or self-torture trying to remedy something, the only thing we can do is learn from mistakes.
2- Shame
It is an internal speech that tells us that we are not enough, that something is not right with us. It is time to turn off that speech to start another one, telling ourselves that we are enough and that we accept ourselves as we are, and do what we can to improve.
3- Bitterness
Although it is inevitable that there are bad things that have happened to us, injustices, betrayals,and disappointments hurt us, carrying bitterness is like constantly poisoning ourselves. That day has to come when we leave bitterness behind. Forgiving the offenses of others and of our own is a way of caring for and loving ourselves to let go of that burden that is no longer ours.
4- Excuses
Excuses are the number one enemy that keeps us from moving forward. Either we have determination or we have excuses to start changing.
5- Low self-esteem
If we do not value ourselves, nor love ourselves, that is what we will reflect to others. By believing and receiving God’s love, we can love ourselves so that we can love others.
6- Indecision
The fear of being wrong can cause us to become indecisive. Changing this pattern takes practice, and we can do it one day at a time.
7- Self-criticism
Although introspection, or evaluating ourselves is healthy, we could fall into the trap of criticizing everything we do that perhaps does not turn out to be excellent. We have to learn to celebrate both our failures and our small achievements. It is healthy to know both our mistakes and virtues to be balanced in everything.
“Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14 AMP
Amando La Vida 