I felt this was worth passing on!
The Present Creates the Past
There is but one moment in time and that moment is now. No other time exists. The past and future are only ideas… illusions. Our power to create, to inspire, to build, to grow, to love, to change, and to live comes from this one point in time; this now moment. Given this, we can come to the realization that it is not the past that creates the present but the present that creates the past.
The experiences all of us have had in the days, weeks, months, years, and decades past have caused us to make certain decisions. If those decisions were strongly impressed upon us, we chose to continue to make them over and over and over again. These choices became habitual and now we make them without even thinking and we say, “Well, that’s just how I am. I can’t help it.” Due to this perspective, we make the assumption that our pas t experiences have created us to be the people we are now. In truth, however, we are always creating who we are in the moment of now by continuing to make the same choices as before. For example, if you had your heart broken many times in the past, you might have chosen to be more guarded and less open to relationships. Now, when someone approaches you and shows signs of interest, you choose to make the same decision and guard yourself from the possibility of future heartbreak.
As you can see, current behavioral patterns are a result of choices we make in the moment and not some residual effect of a past event. Though the initial decision to act in a certain way might have been made 10 years ago, if you are repeating that behavior, it is because you’re making the choice to do so right now. This means that you are a product of your present, not your past.
The events of yesterday only have meaning to us if we choose for them to. Lessons learned and fond memories are things we should hold on to but negative experiences and painful memories can be released, since they serve no purpose other than to create obstacles in the present. Remember, just because something happened in a negative way before does not mean it has to happen that way again.
Also, by changing our perspective of previous events, we can change our perception of the past. If something bad happened to you, take another look at it from the perspective of learning lessons from the experience. Has your life improved in any way? Did you learn something valuable? Did it give you a perspective you didn’t have before so that you might be able to relate to others in a different way?
All of this leads me to the main point of this article and that is how to change present negative behavior patterns. Since the past is actually created from the present, all that has to be done is to make a decision to redefine the circumstances from the perspective of right now. Ask yourself, “How would I like to respond to this situation?” When you have an answer, make a decision to be that person. If we take a look at the relationship example from earlier, the question might be, “How do I want to respond to this person now?” The answer might be, “I want to be open and receptive to him/her.” Now choose to be the person who is open and receptive. By continually making that choice in every moment of now, you are redefining your self as the person you want to be and not as the person you used to be.
Sometimes, though, resistance comes up when people try this. Fears may surface and make it difficult to choose something other than what they have become comfortable with. When this occurs, there is a belief system interfering with the change. To discover the belief, simply ask yourself, “What do I have to believe is true in order to feel the way I do?” As you find your answer, redefine it by making the choice to be the person you’d prefer to be, instead. If, for instance, you answer, “I’m afraid people will judge me harshly”, choose to redefine yourself as someone who doesn’t need the approval of others. How would that person feel, act, react, carry him/herself, etc.?
If you are willing to take charge of the decisions you make in the circumstances you encounter in the present, you can overcome negative influences from the past.
Peace & Blessings,
By Regina Tucker
