“Don’t let your past define you!” say the self-improvement gurus.
A lot of self-help books have been written about denying your ugly past and not letting it define you.
It’s a myth that our past doesn’t define us.
You learn not to let it influence your decision making and your choices but you have to acknowledge no matter how bad your past may have been, there were benefits that created in you a person you didn’t realize existed.
Did your past build courage? Did it bring about resilience? Did you discover a hidden boldness? Did it teach you how to turn your perceived weaknesses into strengths?
Did it hone skills you didn’t realize you had? Did it cultivate patience? Did it give you a better understanding of others and what might be influencing their responses to you?
The biggest benefit would be, from my perspective is, if in your difficult past life, you drew near to God, sought Jesus as your Savior and Lord to help you through it.
The beauty of loving God, becoming a follower of the Messiah, the Savior, Jesus the Christ is even if the trials were to continue to come, you can be sure that it will yield good for you.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Romans 8:28 NLT
So, should you ditch your past? Or should you evaluate the positive characteristics it created in or brought out of you? How about you put down that self-help book right now and take stock right now and see where you’re at?
By the way, while you’re at it if you didn’t know, the Bible is the best personal and business development book to read. Try it out!