Top 5 Ways Our Memories Keep Us From Progress

When most of us think of memories we usually try to ponder fond days at the lake or spending time with family and friends. When some think of memories unfortunately, they go to darker places filled with fear and anxiety. Have you ever stopped to consider what memories are and how they can affect our everyday lives? Oh I'm not downplaying the importance of remembering. The problem lies in the obscure, remote, and often unknown ways your memories keep us from progressing towards our goals and dreams.

Did you know that how you think and how you feel unite to comprise a series of electrical and chemical neurological impulse combinations to create your State of Being? And these mental and emotional concoctions of the brain are as addictive as any drug known to man (both legal and illegal). 

When it comes to who we are and what gives us true joy and peace we are compelled to consider what thoughts, ideas, and feelings led us to where we are today.

It is important to have the ability to remember things, places, and people. And while we may want to forget other things like foolish acts, relationships, or nightmares that's not quite what I'm talking about today.

I want you to ponder and think about your dreams. What are some goals you'd like to achieve in life? Are there places you want to go, a charity you'd love to support, or is there a dream career you feel you'd be perfect for? Now, let me ask you something... Why haven't you done those things yet? Are you still pursuing them? Have you shared your goals and dreams with others? If not, why? Do you feel like your life has been a series of repeated setbacks (taking two steps forward and three steps back)? If you're like most they're some solid reasons that you've likely not considered as to some of the reasons why you haven't progressed as much as you'd hoped. Below are my Top 5 Ways our Memories Keep us from Progress.

5.) Frankenstein Memories -  We all have a lifetime of "experience" watching others around us and being told by parents, teachers, coaches, pastors, and friends of what we should do or be in life. We often spend years doing what I call "Frankenstein-ing" our identity. We grab an eye from over here. A nose from over there. Our lips and ears are from another place. And don't get me started on our physical bodies (shape, size, strength, etc). We've made it our life's mission to become what others think we should be. And our desire to progress and become this Frankenstein-ed version of You never quite comes to fruition because we have no real passion for it. Or if we do become this worldly version of ourselves we lack the peace that's supposed to accompany authentic progress towards our Purpose.

4.) Misplaced Memories - From the time we were children we were told who we are, what to think, and how we should act. Little boys are told - Don't cry, be a man, be strong, take control, and again, Don't cry. Little girls - be submissive, don't be too controlling, don't be emotional, and that you must be pretty, smart, and gifted to succeed. While it was never the intention of our parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends to discourage us or keep us down their words imprinted upon our spirits. They did the best they could because that's how they were raised. These memories shape who we are as we grow. If we don't proactively push against the pressures placed upon us and peel away the various aspects that aren't true to who we are then we live a life that ultimately becomes a lie.

3.) False Memories - What do we believe about ourselves? I call this "false memories" because what we're remembering were never validated. By the time we're in our teens and early twenties we've told ourselves so many lies they've become truth. We're not smart enough. We're not pretty enough, We can't do that. We don't have enough money. We grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. We were born in the wrong family. And the list goes on and on. These false narratives are lies we've embraced about who we are and what we can accomplish. We see others succeeding around us and make excuses for why they can do it but we never can. Sometimes we've been told we can't do certain things because they seem risky or unwise by parents or friends. Starting a business, pursuing a relationship, going to college, pursuing an acting or singing career, or any other thought or idea we had as kids but felt pressure to give up on as adults are often the things that lead to true purpose and progress in life. Even if we were to change our minds later at least we attempted something we really wanted to do. Our purposes will change as we change and mature.

2.) True Memories – Sometimes the hardest person on the planet to forgive when you get hurt is yourself. We all make mistakes and have some level of regret. However, you can’t let your past dictate and arrest the potential of your future. You need to own your mistakes, but then move on. And don’t allow others to use your past failures like chains to keep you from progressing forward in life. Unfortunately, the biggest culprits who inflict this type of condemnation on you will be those in your own family. They’ll remind you of what you did as a form of manipulation. And because you haven’t learned to forgive yourself you’ve allowed them to hold you captive in your own home or relationship. Genuine forgiveness must be sought, but it’s not your obligation to make them forgive. You do your best with love and compassion, but you absolutely must move on.

1.) We're Memory Addicts - And the number one way your Memories can keep you from progress is you're Addicted to the "old you". Yep. The old you has had a lifetime to instill, ingrain, and solidify the specific coding it's laid down in your mind and brain. This is the reason so many create New Years Resolutions only to let them slip just a few days or weeks into their "new life". It's not just about Will Power. If we go into a fight without knowledge of what we're up against we're bound to run into something we weren't expecting causing a setback or complete failure.

The greatest threat to our progress and purpose is not so much outside forces, but rather internal thoughts and feelings. We must create new ways of thinking in order to create a life that's different than what we've experienced thus far. Rather than repeating memories of the past we need to repeat ideas of the future. We need to ponder what is possible and what we desire. When our dreams and desires outweigh our past memories then progress will consistently align in your life like never before! 

If these tips were beneficial to you I encourage you to share this with friends and family. Then be sure to join me in the On-T.A.P. Tribe Community to connect with others pursuing authentic purpose! The Tribe is a Free community that's like social media, but without all the distractions, hate speech, ads, and other notifications. CLICK HERE to learn more and join for Free!

May God bless you and cause you to perceive the greatness contained within.

Your Authentic You