Backward Thinking: Reminiscing Can Stunt Your Growth

Backward Thinking Reminiscing Can Stunt Your Growth

Recollection can bring you joy, or if you think of unhappy memories, shunt you into mental torment. Being open to change and learning allows personal development to take place. This doesn't mean you should push away good memories of loved ones in the past. However, if you are stuck in the past, as is often the case when reminiscing negative experiences gets out of hand, you will be unable to grow.

Living in the past

Countless people indulge in backward thinking instead of living in the present. Unlike truly pleasurable indulgences, repetitiously going over painful events causes them anguish. In a similar manner to a stuck record, the same tune is played all the time. Talking about sad experiences and picturing them like mind movies brings people down. Consequently, pain and depression are fostered.

Feeding unhappiness

On occasion, everyone is hung up about a memory or two. Specific events dwell in their subconscious, raising their heads now and then in attempts to gain resolution. However, eventually they fade with time or cease to have the same meanings anymore. Negative memories that linger can only do so when they are fed with energy.

Change your focus

Not concentrating on memories that disturb you will cause them to weaken. Changing your focus might seem hard, but doing so is possible. Practicing mindful meditation, where you allow thoughts to come and go like passing clouds, will teach you how to starve unhelpful memories.

Mindful meditation

You can meditate in a traditional sense, whereby you sit cross-legged and close your eyes, or you can practice mindfulness while you carry out a task. Perhaps, you will go for a walk in the countryside while you meditate, sit under a tree, or let all thoughts drift out of your awareness when propped up in bed. As long as you seek the space between thoughts, rather than delving into them as they arise, you will find that letting go of reminiscences that you do not desire becomes easier.

Distraction

Distracting your mind from the past is another constructive method. When a thought you do not want to nourish presents itself, change your focus to another subject or activity in which you can become absorbed. You might imagine that diverting your thoughts will not be helpful long-term, because they are bound to spring forth on a different occasion. However, distraction will be helpful as it can prevent your memories from gaining strength.

Reminiscing about difficult experiences is natural, but can stop you enjoying life if you are not careful. You can take charge of unwanted memories with mindfulness and distraction, since mind monsters fade when they are left to go hungry.

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