The past is gone, the present is here only for a moment, and the future is a blank sheet waiting for you to write upon it.

"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this
thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down"
Mary Pickford

The past is just that, gone.

To make up for any time you may have lost along the road to achieving your dreams, commit to living in the present.

Continuing to look backwards and regret past decisions, events, or relationships is to continue to enable them to debilitate you in the here and now.

Overcoming a negative past requires that you:

Simmer it all down to extract only the lessons you've learned

Reflect on your past just long enough to extract key learning.

What have you learned that you can use going forward?

Make sure these lessons are constructive, and not debilitating to you.

Write down your lessons learned from whatever past event has been haunting you in the present.

Reflect on your role in these past events.

Recognizing that every action has a reaction, what could you do differently going forward if you were to find yourself faced with a similar situation?

Identify concrete action steps you can take going forward to incorporate this learning into a new way of interpreting the actions of others, reinforcing your personal boundaries (what people can and cannot do and say to you), and reacting to others.

And should those old memories come back, have a plan for how you can disable them.

For example, try blasting away that negative mental image with a picture from one of your best, happiest moments.

And, commit to making these mental shifts.

Now, focus on the present

What are all the gifts that life has presented you with today?

Reflect on your friendships, your health, family and other things that create happiness now.

Focus on your present strengths-how can they help you build up from where you are now?

Make a list of the gifts and strengths you currently have in your life.

For each one you've listed, identify how you can use these to help you move forward.

Who can you rely on to provide you with further support? How can you use your strengths (e.g. a great sense of humor) to overcome any challenges or obstacles life may throw your way?

Make a plan and commit to reflecting on these strengths and gifts life has given you now.

Then you are ready to focus on the future

Ask yourself this question:

What do you want for yourself in the next month, 6 months or 1 year?

Get a clear picture of what that might be.

Don't limit yourself out of fear, anxiety or negativity. Give yourself the right to dream big dreams, and then…

Set goals to get yourself there-be sure to set both large and small ones!

Take baby steps

Begin to incorporate the things in your life that can help you get where you want to go.

What might be some immediate next steps for you?

What are some small steps you can take to get you started and boost your confidence that you can overcome your past?

Remember, achievement of smaller goals are just as important as achievement of larger goals, for they will help to motivate you along the way to conquering each new milestone.

Remember to find and call on sources of support and strength.

Who and what are the sources of support you identified for yourself right now? Don't hesitate to call on them.

And, always, always praise and reward yourself for each success!

Don't give up

Each step forward, is one step further away from a past that's long gone.

Keep your eyes to the future, your mind on the present, and enjoy all the gifts each new day brings.