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Reflecting on the past can help us in the future

All of us have had bad experiences we'd prefer to bury away and never reflect upon again.

But can bad memories actually serve a good purpose?

They certainly can if our aim is to better ourselves and strive to overcome obstacles that may have seemed insurmountable in the past.

For example, I've gone through bouts of weight gain throughout my life. When I was in elementary school, I was even teased about my weight by a few kids. This only strengthened my resolve to shed a good amount of weight and show my fellow classmates that I was capable of achieving what I set my mind to.

A few years ago, I found myself well over fifty pounds overweight. One day, while looking in the mirror, flashes of those hurtful days in elementary school came to mind. I vowed that not only would I get in shape, but I would never let myself go again. I'm glad to report that I've made good on that promise to this day.

My point is that triggering painful memories can actually make you stronger and better equip you to face challenges that life may later throw your way. If you find yourself in a similar situation as one you confronted in the past, your experience can guide you toward making a wiser decision this time around. In other words, our past mistakes and experiences should serve to inform our future decisions.

As the saying goes, life isn't about what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you.
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