Understanding past mistakes, successes a useful learning tool
"Remember the former things ..."
- Isaiah 46:9 (NIV)
We can benefit from many of our past mistakes and successes. It can strengthen our self-esteem as we view ourselves as survivors rather than victims.
It can tell a story to others as we fill them in on the details of family gifts, abilities, talents and accomplishments. Used in a positive way, it can help us to look at our growth and development as we ponder the life skills we used to overcome past mistakes.
Gaining strength from our past can strengthen our today and tomorrows as we reminisce over God's miraculous part in our lives.
The biblical psalmist David did this as he reminisced how God helped him defeat the lions and bears during his years as a shepherd. His God-given ability to slay ferocious animals gave him the encouragement to slay the giants in his life.
No one has a past like ours. The more we know and understand about the previous stages of our lives, the more insightful we will be regarding our present.
Although there are aspects of our past that need to be left to the past and not worth dwelling on; using healthy reminiscing as a learning tool can help us better understand how to relate with others and gain wisdom for what lies ahead.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at P.O. Box 532 Grayslake, IL 60030; or Annetteebudzban@aol.com. Visit Annetteebudzban.com.