Does anybody believe that holding on to the past can hinder their future?
399859
Sure.\n\nYou talk about thing things you have.  Did you do something wrong in order to obtain those things?  If so, you may need to make restitution with the person you slighted in order to make peace with that.\n\nWhatever you have done, if you have asked God to forgive you, you have to forgive you, too.  Failing to forgive yourself will definitely hold you back.\n\nOnce God has forgiven you, you don't have the right to wallow in guilt and shame.  He has freed you to go on to better things, and failing to do so is failing to accept His gracious gift.\n\nI know it can be hard to forgive yourself.  I have always struggled with that.  Part of it for me is recognizing that it hurts God when I don't accept His forgiveness and let go of my guilt and move on.\n\nI had the same problem with confidence.  I was afraid of being selfish, and I was very insecure.  I held on to my insecurity because I didn't want to be arrogant and selfish.  Then I realized how selfish it was that when someone asked me for my opinion, I would answer, but in a voice so small that they struggled to hear me.  I was showing my insecurity, which I thought was humble.  But they were having to work to hear me, which is pretty arrogant.  What is so great about what I have to say, that I'm going to make people work to hear it?  Now, I don't have to go to the other extreme and yell, but it is kind to be considerate of the one asking and speak my answer loudly enough that they can hear it.\n\nI used to think my guilt would keep me from making the same mistakes again.  I grew up never being forgiven, so I learned never to forgive myself.  It didn't work, so I shamed myself on top of that.  Still to no avail.\n\nGuilt is supposed to serve a purpose.  It's supposed to lead us to repentance and forgiveness.  Anything other than that is an abuse of guilt.  Some people will say, "ignore the guilt." but that's not really helpful.  Guilt can bring you out of self-destructive patterns if you use it correctly.\n\nWhen you feel it and repent and ask for forgiveness, you have to take the next step, which is trust.  You have to trust God enough to believe that He has forgiven you and that you can forgive yourself.  And you have to trust that He will help you do His will.  And trust yourself enough to take that next step onward.\n\nGuilt keeps you tied to that cement block you tossed in the river.  Cut the cord, or you'll drown in self-contempt.
851365
later in life you might regret the chances you did not take.
272069
Let me ask you this.  If you had a time machine and could change any event in your past, would that make you feel better about yourself today?  If it would then realize what it is about that event that is sabotaging you today.  If it is a past thing, often times we know intellectually that we are ok but our emotions are still tied to that past event.  Emotions stay the same no matter how old we get.  We cant stop the pain in life sometimes but we can increase the tools to deal with it.  When you dropped something as a young child you cried.  You can drop the same item now and it is ok, why?  You have information now that tells intellectually it is ok.  The emotions are the same but the tools to deal with that event are in place.  You have already experienced that event and it no longer shocks you.  So what is it about your life that is shocking you now?\n\nWhatever the issue is past, present, you need to see what is eating away at it.  It is ok to feel bad, it is the flipside of the coin to feeling happy.  The problem is if we become depressed about it, all life's issues become sensative and bigger problems than they are.\n\nYoung or old we all feel down at times.  Some just hide it better or keep themselves occupied to endure those moments.  Sometimes we feel like we are being taken somewhere and have no way to steer it.  The key is planning what you want to do.  Life is 90% how you react to it.  If you think you are successful and a good person, people will be convinced of it too.  Most reality comes from someone's perception.  They believed it and it became so.\n\nDepression is impression without expression.  Something gets you down, find a way to express it.\n\nIf you kind of hate yourself then you have not completely made full judgement on yourself yet.  If you hate yourself than you are having an expectation that you are not at yet.  Find out what that is and is it a valid expectation?\n\nGood luck to you!
265759
It would be nice to know the future, yes.  I'd correct mistakes before they happen.  There are a lot of things that I know know that I wish I would've known when I was younger, too.
426968
Im with you but I think to many people are afraid of change they forget that our forefathers done it in the past.
263474
NO! There are a lot of things that people think they want to forget but these are part of who you are. They will help mold your future, help you figure out how you want to raise your children and just live your life. I myself went through 3 separate kinds of abuse when I was growing up but it helped make me who I am. And my sons will change things in thier lives that I goofed up on too. Nobody's perfect!\nI guess if you've seen something that gives you nightmares then I would understand wanting to forget but maybe there's a place for that fear to shape your life also.
762074
ever hear the tale of the dog with a bone?  he mistook a reflection in a creek for a better bone.  when he went for the "other bone" the one he had fell in the water and he ended up with nothing.  \n\ndon't let go of what you have, and leave the past in the past.
374554
of course in the future, its the only time i havent been to yet.. anybody who who wants to go back to the past must have something in the present to regret about.
1171280
It's the only thing you can change, since the past is done and the present just is. You cannot, however, control the future, since what happens depends on more than just you.
719415
I think in both directions. \n\nThose who forget the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat them.\n\nThe prophecies given in the past tell about the Days to Come.\n\netc.
632511
We can never entirely ignore the past, just sometimes it effects are more subtle than others. On the whole the more emotional and powerful something is the more effect it will have in the long term.
376524
The past shapes what we are today. Good and bad memories both will influence your judgement. Consciously using memories can reduce the risk of prejudices because you are aware of the foundation of your judgements.\n \nGood memories can as well help live through adversity - the knowledge that things can go right. While really bad memories might be hard to shake of - the experience of things going really wrong.
102925
I think you could if you were quite about it. In other words, say good bye to your past.
1085782
You need to deal with your demons, your past is making it impossible for you to enjoy your present. Sounds like you need therapy.
665146
The past must be accepted. It should never be denied. It is apart of the reason why a country is now the way it is. We should try to forgive and move ahead. But to forget is disrespectful to all who have suffered. Effects of these sufferings last for generation upon generation and unless you have felt the effects you may not understand why people today are still so hurt by past events. Its very complicated and painful. I just hope one day, we as a world of people will learn to accept, acknowledge, love each other and live in peace together. That's a big ask, but I'll never stop hoping.
767787
I wouldn't go back in time....I could mess things up!\n\n=)
158096
The worst limitation is that it is not forward looking. It cannot predict the future, only analyze the past, compare and contrast the present with the past.