Why What We Look Back On Is Not Something to Judge

Photo By: Vitaly Gariev https://unsplash.com/@silverkblack

I was looking back on something I shared weeks ago and I felt myself regretting what I had done. Critical whispers started up. I can't believe you shared that! That is soo Not you! That's a lie! As the whispers rushed to convince me of my error, I realized that I am not the same person or in the same circumstance as the person I was weeks ago. At that time, I had just uncovered something about myself and I was excited with the discovery because I had been feeling scared and helpless for a while. Since that time, I have come to an understanding with what I found and I have been able to let some of it go to move on. I feel more confident and able, ready to discover more. 

It's amazing that in just weeks I can recognize two different people in myself, the changes that happened and how who I was is meshed in who I am today. It makes sense why what I did back then feels wrong right now, I was different and in a different mindset at a different time. What I do in any situation pertains to that moment and how I think now pertains to now. I shouldn't be sitting here criticizing myself for something I can't control or change, but I can recognize the changes I underwent that triggered my criticism. 

Life is amazing with its constant changes! Whoever I am at any moment is valuable as long as I know that I did my best in that moment. I don't control the changes but I do control my perception, feelings and actions now. It's my responsibility to catch the negative whispers in my mind and make sense of what I'm observing. There's no value in judging myself without considering all the changes. What has passed cannot be changed but it does teach me in this moment.