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You Can't Change the Past

You Can't Change the Past

It may sound simple, but it's a hard truth to live by: the past is unchangeable. No matter what we do, feel, or think, we cannot alter what has already happened. We often spend excessive time and energy dwelling on the past, losing sleep over actions taken or not taken, feeling guilty about past mistakes, and imagining how the present and future might have been different if only something in the past could be altered or undone. While this is completely understandable, it's also one of the biggest distractions and energy drains that humans can pursue. Moreover, it can be emotionally and personally destabilizing, preventing us from being our best selves in the present.


I’m not suggesting we forget the past and disregard its lessons or the enjoyment of beautiful memories. However, letting go of the past is just as crucial in the professional realm as it is in our personal lives. I've heard too many young professionals express regrets about past career decisions, and get stuck  going over and over past professional failures or missteps—whether as minor as a poorly articulated point in a team meeting or as significant as a botched presentation during a critical company pitch.


What truly matters is moving forward. What will you do differently next time? What have you learned from your experiences? Will you be better prepared in the future? We all experience failure and setbacks in our professional journeys; it's part of the process and part of life. 


My advice? Set aside the past, focus on the present, and march confidently forward. There's strength in the ability to move past negative experiences quickly—just ask any successful basketball player who takes a three-point shot after missing the previous eight, or the quarterback who, after throwing an interception, attempts a 50-yard pass to win the game. We cannot change the past. No one can.

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