This post is inspired by Danielle LaPorte’s Burning question: What would you be more of if you let go of the past?
We each have a past. It’s filled with ups and downs — successes and stumbles. It leads you perfectly to where you are today. While understanding your past can be comforting and useful, there comes a point when you must ask: “Now what? Who am I going to be even with my past?”
It requires drawing a line in the sand and declaring, “Enough! From here on, I’m standing up for the person I know I am deep inside, not all the fears and stories I’ve built up around me.”
Your line might not look so cut and dry, but just declaring these words brings power to fresh starts.
So, in the spirit of walking my talk, I’ve asked myself this question: What would I do more of if I let go of the past? (p.s. I used ‘do’ instead of ‘be’ because it worked better for me!)
Here are some of my answers:
- I would live vibrantly, not knowing anything but wellness, energy and inner harmony.
- I would adore my body because I wouldn’t have any standard to compare to that would make me feel less than.
- I would see myself as a beautiful, smart, creative woman because I would have no knowledge I am anything else.
- I would play more and try new things because I wouldn’t have a sense that I could fail… or much less care.
- I would greet everyone with more love and kindness because I would not remember ANY past hurts or that I wasn’t to talk to strangers.
- I would sing to my heart’s content because it fueled me, and I didn’t know to be concerned of what others thought.
- I would act on my dreams because I wouldn’t remember they weren’t “realistic” yesterday.
- I would serve the world in ways that jazzed me, because there would be no inner voice telling me I wasn’t enough or I couldn’t.
- I would let go of possessions and obligations, because I wouldn’t be attached to their memories or felt sense of responsibility.
- I would love myself more, because I didn’t let a past (in which I did the best I could) define me now.
While these answers seem hypothetical, the truth is, I can do all of them NOW. And that is the juicy work in front of me. What about you? What would you do or be more of if you let go of your past? I’d love to hear!
