Signs that you are living in the past
It is perhaps the inherent nature of humans to live in the past. Being so engrossed in a random moment from 1982 that you lose sight of the present before you, showcases our infatuation with the past. And why wouldn’t we? The past gives us comfort. It provides us with the guarantee that it will not change.
Whether it was your past peak or an incident of dismay, the past never invokes the fear of the unknown in us. But these comforts are the creation of the devil. The past lures you into a dark cave of no improvement. It takes years before we identify the material of the shackles that bound us.
However, we have streamlined the process for you, as here as some signs that indicate that you are living in the past.
YOU ARE QUICK TO DIVE INTO NOSTALGIA
We can all relate to the emotion of nostalgia. It belongs to the category of feelings that all people experience and are familiar with. A specific mood, smell, or memory can trigger this emotional state. But what if you have too many instances of nostalgia?
At this point, a momentary feeling of beautiful grief develops into a constant desire to repeatedly revisit the past. It’s possible that you’ll lose yourself in your recollections and remain there for some time before something or someone “wakes” you up.
You remember every detail and how content you felt at the time. While nostalgia may make you feel wonderful, it also distances you from the present.
THERE IS SOME UNRESOLVED TRAUMA HAUNTING YOU
It might be challenging to leave the memory when there has been extreme conflict or trauma in childhood. It makes sense because unpleasant events can have a long-lasting impact on us.
When injured, we often choose to suppress our feelings instead of addressing them. It’s simpler to do this. Years pass, and the remnants of this unaddressed trauma accumulate in our minds, having surprising effects on us.
LETTING GO IS TOUGH FOR YOU
For instance, you can try to maintain contact with your ex by finding a reason to visit them or call them.
Even the smallest things, like avoiding tossing your child’s toys aside, can manifest this.
Getting over a breakup or adapting to the detachment of a friend who has relocated to a different city can be challenging.
YOU REFRAIN FROM CHANGING
You are clinging to their established habits, well-known locations, and the individuals they have known for a very long time. You don’t want to stretch outside your comfort zones and grow. Such individuals merely desire the status quo.
YOU ARE A MUSEUM OF THE GRUDGES YOU HOLD
There is a distinction between harboring resentment and merely recalling the people who have wronged you. In the first scenario, years after the incident, you are still emotionally stirred. Yes, it’s challenging to forgive, but holding onto resentments from the past is poisonous and prevents you from moving on with your life. Be aware that your resentment affects your ability to be happy.
ACCORDING TO YOU, LIFE USED TO BE BETTER
You’ve stopped taking part in life. You can be susceptible to nostalgia, which causes you to reminisce about the lovely moments in your past. This behavior makes it easy to believe that life was simpler and you were happier in the past.
At a certain age, it’s very reasonable to possess this way of thinking, but some people hold onto it their entire lives. And it comes down to one fundamental truth: the inability to express gratitude and take pleasure in the here and now is the root of the belief that “life used to be better.”
LOW SELF-ESTEEM AND BLAMING YOURSELF FOR EVERYTHING
Have you ever noticed how frequently you apologize? You are apologizing too much if you catch yourself using excuses as breaths. This can be the result of self-forgiveness issues. Whatever it is, it ought to be permanently stored away. Regardless of what has transpired in the past, you deserve to be forgiven and given another chance, just like everyone else.
Low self-esteem is a result of a previous occurrence. It results from not feeling attractive or competent enough by social standards. If you haven’t managed to go past these emotions, you can still be stuck in the time when they first appeared.
COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE PRESENT
You cannot stop yourself from comparing your past with your present. If your past was better, then the present ceased to satisfy you, and if your past was worse, then you did not give the present a chance to bring forth potential mirth and joy.
If you are looking to unlock your potential, contact HASHTAG today. Our experienced counsellors are dedicated to empowering individuals to adapt, thrive, and succeed in this transformative era. Take the first step towards a rewarding future with HASHTAG career counseling.
