Past Mistakes:

Sometimes we wish that we could go back in time to change the past, and make different decisions than the ones we have made, thereby changing our future, or from our point of view, our current reality.

We allow our Monkey Mind to revisit our past mistakes often times invoking an emotional response within us which is detrimental to our wellbeing. Sometimes we allow our minds to be filled with anger as we replay situations that occurred in the past, and dwell upon how we should have reacted differently.

This anger not only changes the expression on our faces, but our entire physiology as well. Our bodies will react as if we are angry in the present moment, and the accompanying response within us will bring us stress related illnesses as well.

We as humans also dwell on thoughts of sadness over the loss of a loved one, whether this is due to their death, or our separation from them caused by our differences or words that we said in anger.

When someone we love passes away our negative thoughts brought on by grief will bring memories of things we did wrong to the surface. We will think of the bad things we had done in the past in our interactions with them, and ask their spirit for forgiveness.

We will often also wish that we had spent more time with them, and enjoyed their presence during their lifetime.

When we are merely separated, but still in love with them we will blame ourselves for that loss, and punish ourselves for what we believe we did wrong which will bring us overwhelming sadness.

Don Henley said in his song, The Heart of the Matter.
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“There are people in your life who've come and gone
They let you down and hurt your pride
Better put it all behind you; life goes on
You keep carrin' that anger, it'll eat you up inside”

If we allow our negative thoughts of hurt and anger to occupy space in our mind and guide our thinking, we will lose sight of our mindfulness, and it will distract us from our path to nirvana.

The lingering sorrow we feel will cause depression to overcome us, and our anger will eat us up inside.

This is what is meant by, “Our worst enemy cannot harm us as much as our own unguarded thoughts.”

If we try to understand that there is a reason for everything, than our poor decisions made in the past may merely be a lesson that guides us towards our true destiny.

Experiences from the past… Remember them, learn from them, but do not dwell on them. Let them enter your mind, acknowledge them, and release them. They don’t belong in your present, and you don’t belong in their past.

When you feel those negative thoughts arising take a few deep breaths, smile and let them pass through you. Being aware of your negative thoughts and actions in the past building within you will assist you in being mindful of the present moment.

No matter how much we want to change the past, we cannot do it. We can only accept it, let it go, and be mindful of the present.

Be here in the now. Let go of your attachments to your past mistakes, and Embrace Nirvana.

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