Positive Thursday: When Dreams Take Off Do Not Look Back

Last updated on June 9th, 2012 at 09:53 pm

It’s one week until I’m flying to my new home, my next chapter of life, my dream.

Thank you so much to everyone who read and commented on my post last week Complete Your Circle of Influence. In the post, I explained just how vital it is to surround yourself with people who encourage, inspire and motivate you.

They not only support your dreams and future endeavors, they support you.

In the post I wrote:

Those in your circle of influence speak the truth in love.

They will tell you when they are concerned, why they are scared, what is upsetting. They are realistic. The people YOU CHOOSE to place in your circle of influence not only give you encouraging pep talks, but they voice their concerns and fears.

It’s not out of fear, it’s out of love for you and your future. Embrace their advice. Take it in and evaluate it. Value their opinion!

And today, I am especially grateful to have my fabulous mom in my my circle of influence. I’m just going to be honest with you – it was harder to leave my college town and community than I initially thought. It was okay at first because when I moved out, everyone else was leaving for spring break so I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.

This week school started up again so I am seeing the Facebook posts, the tweets, etc. and was feeling sour.

“I’m so jealous all my friends are all together,”

“I just wish I could do fill-in-the-blank with fill-in-the-blank right now,”

“I wish I were still in college!” were thoughts going through my head and I was in a bad mood about it.

I kept thinking about what I was missing out on until my mom put everything in perspective.

I’ve been evaluating the things I’m missing out on graduating college early rather than count my blessings and the many things I have to look forward to! Rather than be jealous that all my friends are all together enjoying their last quarter of college, I need to be happy for them.

I also need to be happy for myself and where I’m at right now in life. It’s absolutely foolish and a waste of time to look back and wish I were in a different place or chapter of life.

I love the above image:

YOUR journey has molded you for the greater good. It was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think you’ve lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And NOW is right on time.

The next chapter of my life is happening now. And I need to be overwhelmed with excitement rather than looking back on the last chapter. I need to be at peace in the present moment rather than constantly thinking about the past.

The twists and turns and ups and downs in life have brought me right where I am right now and that is exactly where I need to be.

My mom cheerfully reminded me – I can’t live in both worlds. I can’t be living in my past “college life” and also start a new chapter of life working in California.

So true, right?

Looking back on the past often deprives you of the joy in the present.

Looking back on the past – if not put in perspective – can often “freeze” you in time and not allow you to move forward with you life.

Looking back on the past can often make you view those experiences from a foggy lens and not see the big picture of life.

I’m not saying to erase all past memories. Instead, look back on the past with appreciation for how far you’ve come and how much you’ve grown. I value my four years of college and the experiences I had so much, but I need to make a conscious decision to not live in that chapter of life anymore.

It’s time to move forward.

So here’s to stepping out of the past and into the present.

Here’s to continuing to grow, evolve and become the best person you can be. Here’s to enjoying the present and pursuing the future without strings attached to the past.

Here’s to stepping outside of our comfort zones. Here’s to you and the beautiful journey you’re on.

Here’s to courage!