Everybody’s got a past. The past does not equal the future unless you live there.
– Tony Robbins
Point to Ponder:
What words from the past are you hanging on to and allowing to limit the way you live your life?
Action Item:
Make it a goal to overcome the negative and hurtful words of other people and start living an uninhibited life.
by Neissa Springmann
Last week, while talking with a group of friends about our goals, we realized we had one thing in common: we were hanging on to negative comments from the past and allowing them to affect our self-esteem. Let me explain.
When I was in the third grade, I was definitely a chubster. My parents never told me I was anything but perfect, so I really didn’t think much of it. However, my opinion of myself changed after our neighbor looked right at me and said, “Well aren’t you a little fat thing!” Granted, this comment was 28 years ago, however I still vividly remember how hurtful it was. And, despite being told I was too thin at different times in my life, her words have always played in my head and I often times have to give myself a body image pep talk.
As for my friends, one of them hasn’t worn shorts since junior high because she was once called “thunder thighs,” while another is paranoid about her forehead because one time, many, many years ago, she was told she had a big forehead! After talking to my friends about our ridiculous, yet real insecurities, we realized that we were allowing the words of other people affect how we feel about ourselves and essentially limit the way we live our lives. Therefore, we decided that one of our goals would be to shake off the comments of the past so we can start living for the future.
So, in the event you are struggling to determine a goal to set for yourself between now and Christmas, maybe consider shaking off a negative comment that is haunting your spirit and preventing you to live a full and free life. Not only do you deserve it, but your family, friends, and community deserve to see and experience the very best and uninhibited you!
What do YOU think? Share your stories & join the discussion by leaving a comment
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If I sat here and thought about it, I could probably think of at least 10 comments or negative judgments made about me in the past that have impacted the way I do things today…After reading this post it inspires me to do things differently just to show those people that I don’t care what they said!!! Things that come to mind are middle school boys’ comments about my body, my grandma’s voice telling me to never leave the house “without my face on….” I mean, these are so ridiculous, I can’t even take myself seriously right now!!!!
What’s the most silly about that is that I’m SURE none of them even remember making those comments, much less think they impacted me in a way that changed what I thought about myself or the way I live my life!! So can it really be true that I’ve let their judgements of me change me, and I am the only one suffering from that?? Thanks for helping me see some of those negative comments that are still inside me because now I am letting those go!!! As my mom would say, “letting it go…like a lead balloon!!”
I love this! I have many times repeated the saying – Don’t look back, that’s not the way your going! Easier said than done though. I have noticed that negative thoughts come more easily on days I don’t move my body and exercise. I think we literally have to shake it off!
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