3 REASONS TO LOOK FORWARD, NOT BACK

1. You aren’t defined by your past

Many of us have pasts that were full of pain and negativity. You may feel like a failure, and frankly, not up for the challenges ahead. However, when you define yourself and your future abilities by these past attempts, you may become discouraged and filled with regret. Looking to the past for answers puts old patterns and behaviors on repeat while adding harsh judgments upon yourself and others. It is important to learn from your past and grow from the mistakes made, but it’s never a good idea to define yourself by what you haven’t figured out yet.

2. You can’t change the past

There’s no reason to argue with the past or wish it were different. That’s a waste of emotional energy. Instead, take that energy and focus on your future —something you CAN affect. The truth is, you can’t go back. The past is over. For some of us, this is a blessing. The good news, however, is that the future is yours for the taking.

3. The future is full of possibilities

The future can be scary and unknown, but it also holds every possibility. If anything was possible, what would you really want? By focusing on the future that is yet to be decided, you get to create from a place of true desire—a place where anything is possible. The future is a place where you get to choose who you are and how you show up. It’s a place of new identities and new behaviors and new choices. It takes time, practice, and commitment to intentionally choose something new, and the future is where this slow but sure change takes place.

What is forward-focused coaching?

At Cairn Transition Coaching, we understand firsthand the struggles and hardships of what may have been the past. We know your current decisions and behaviors are shaped and informed by those past life experiences. Our goal is to help both teens and parents take responsibility for their part, accept what emotions and consequences are present, and then intentionally choose again.

It’s time to turn your head and start focusing on the road ahead. The past is over and gone—you can’t go back and change it or redo anything. Your past set you up to be the person you are today. Love it for how it has shaped you and say goodbye. It’s time to get excited about your future.

Begin your forward-focused coaching with Cairn.