“The past is a place to learn from, not live in.”

Looking back can be beautiful. It reconnects us with moments when we were happy, proud, heartbroken, or resilient. Nostalgia is everywhere today, with wide-leg pants, oversized blazers, and the return of boy bands, reminding us that what’s old often comes back around. But reflecting on the past is very different from getting stuck in it.

What happens when you’re so focused on what happened… or didn’t happen… or should have happened, that you stop moving forward? When fear of losing what once was keeps you from moving forward?

When You Find Yourself Living in the Past, Try This:

Journaling Prompts

Use these questions to gently explore what’s keeping you anchored:

• What do I believe I missed out on?

• What emotion comes up when I imagine leaving this memory behind—fear, loneliness, sadness, something else?

• Why do I feel this way? What is this emotion trying to protect me from?

• What do I want to accomplish in the next six months?

Journaling helps you release what you’re holding on to, understand the feelings attached to it, and notice whether those beliefs are grounded in reality. It also shifts your focus toward the future, giving you something meaningful to work toward.

Remember: everything has a season, and no season lasts forever. You’re allowed to appreciate where you’ve been while still believing that the best is yet to come. You can revisit the past, but your life is built in the present. Take a breath, take a step, and keep moving forward.

- Lianne Nottingham