The Good Book encourages us to “forgive and forget”. While forgiving may be relatively easy and has a healing effect, forgetting is not. We gain life experiences daily and the longer you live, the more experiences you have. Many of us get paid for our wealth of experience, so forgetting things doesn’t come easy. From the basic stuff like morning routines to more complex stuff like flying a plane or writing sophisticated code, retaining information or experiences helps us move along quickly.
Unfortunately, when we have not great experiences – like failures, uncomfortable conversations or interactions – we tend not to forget those either. While remembering some of those experience could help avoid future mistakes, not all experiences from our past deserve a place in our future.
A bad sales call could make an inexperienced sales representative lose hope and avoid making more calls. An unpleasant experience with a teammate could mark the beginning of a slippery slope in that relationship. A failed business could translate to “I can’t do it” or some other version. It is so easy to get lost and discouraged in the past and therefore lose sight of the future.
How does one know what experiences or lessons deserve a place in the future? The key is to reflect on the past and learn from it, but don’t dwell on it. As a wise one said, “Our greatest mistakes also carry our largest lessons…The real trick in life is to turn hindsight into foresight that reveals insight.” In other words, let your past serve you, not lead you.
I believe in the notion of nipping things in the bud – when a slippery slope situation can be avoided, go ahead and stop it from getting worse. If that is not an option, be sure to take a step back, analyze the situation and course correct. You may have to bring in a mediator.
In the case of failures or mistakes, take some time to reflect on what you can learn from that experience and move forward with this new found insight. Don’t let your failures define you. Let your failures teach you. A coach may prove invaluable to help uncover the impact of the experience in question and create ways to overcome and move forward.
Need help overcoming somewhat indelible experiences that keep you from creating the future you want? Let’s talk! info@TheCommissionInternational.com
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