Question: Why do I punish myself over and over for things I did in the past that were inappropriate or stupid?

Question: Why do I punish myself over and over for things I did in the past that were inappropriate or stupid? How can I let them go once and for all so I don’t cringe every time they come into my mind and still find myself continuing to feel bad years later?

Answer: The things you worry over are so small and unimportant that nobody thinks of them but you. It is impossible to go back and change them so you must let them go. It is too late to rewrite the past. Wipe the slate clean and write the future. Haven’t you done things to outshine the faux pas since then?

You’ve done so many bigger things both good and bad since then. Why hold on to that particular incident? Embarrassment? Ego? You’re dealing with ego again and its need for drama. It’s time to grow and move beyond the power of ego to control your life, and allow yourself to spend time in the vibrational place where you want to be.

So many people love and admire you. Why waste time on events and people who diminish the beauty of that? Stay in the now. Live in the now. Love and appreciate the now. It’s all you have, and it’s wonderful. Let go of the past. Let go of what you can’t change or control. Life is beautiful and so are you. The past has helped to create the person you are now, and now will shape your future. This is the past you will remember before long. Live it. Love it. Make it a past that will fill you with joy and pride.

Why not stay in the now and focus only on things that make you happy. Let everything else go. Having a successful, peaceful, happy life is all about feeling good inside.

This is a good place to begin to use positive affirmations that will help you to let go of the past mistakes and negativity. For example, if you haven’t already, begin today to say, “I love myself, I forgive myself, I approve of myself.”

Add to it another affirmation such as, “I am willing to let go of the past. I am ready to live happily in the now.” Say it every morning, every night and as often in between as you can. In the beginning it may not feel true to you, but if you are faithful to saying it, you will very shortly see the things in the past that you feel bad about disappear from your memory.

Affirmations are truly miracle workers. Let them work miracles for you.