It’s occurred to me that when we look back at our life, we look back with a range of Retrospection glasses. At times, we look through the lens of self-criticism or of loss, other times, through the lens appreciation and love. There are countless lenses we can use.
Today, I would like to read a book to remind me to make sure I wear the right Retrospection glasses for the job, then put them down as fast as possible and focus on the Now.
Let’s do this!
Overshare: One of the self-development topics that challenges me is to live in the Now. I love the Now! So, why don’t I stay there? There are more times than I’d like when I slide to the past or float to the future.
Looking at the past requires some sort of glasses, I call them Retrospecs. There are no one-size-fits-all retrospection glasses. We switch glasses depending on what we’re looking back for and our current mood. I have to point out the irony that our current situation inspires us to look back.
We might look back lovingly at some cherished loved ones and shared moments. We might look back with critical lenses at the mistakes we feel we’ve made. We might wear a pair from the Pity-Party collection and go back swimming in self-deprecation.
“The past is a nice place to visit, but we can’t stay there. We’re not welcome, they don’t want us there and we’re not doing anything about our Now.”
-A mix of a bunch of different quotes which I wish I could properly credit, but can’t. And I added my own bit.
Sidenote: In the StarTrek universe, crew members have access to Holodecks. These are rooms that can be programmed to be a whole environment complete with life-like people. The environment you request is real enough to blur the line between real and artificial. The Holodeck can show you people and situations from the past.
Science-fiction has an interesting fascination with both the past and the future. Think of Back to the Future!
Why do we look back?
We look to the past for so many reasons, but ultimately, I feel that we look back for comfort and answers. We look back for clarity. We want to solve something we are currently living or being haunted by. We go back to hide, solve and connect. Closure.
Makes sense, right?
The past is predictable and might have some great gems hidden like a pirate’s treasure hunt. The more gems we find, the more we put together the CSI of what we lived and desperately hope that two of those gems are the lenses to a new pair of Retrospecs that will help us see the whole thing clearly.
Stumbling into life: Moving forward, looking back
Though Retrospecs are great looking at the past, they’re also great at distorting the view around us and they block us from looking ahead. Which, all and all, isn’t all that great to live our life and move forward.
Let’s put the Retrospecs down and just put them on when we really need them. We’re living life Now and moving forward. Looking back can only make us stumble or fall.
Enjoy,
Karine