Can You Throw Out the Past?

“When you expect the best, you release a magnetic force.”

– Norman Vincent Peale 

What a lovely admonition from Normal Vincent Peale, a thought leader in the 50s who counseled presidents, church leaders, and thousands of people needing help and advice.

People came to him with deep sadness, hurt and pain, mostly emotional.   Yet he helped “turn them around.”  He’d lift them up. Give them practical steps to change their lives.   Make it doable and inspiring.

He’d often state:

“When you expect the best, you release a magnetic force.”

And that’s true!    No point in staying stuck in sadness, in the past.  So what do you do with that past? Do you throw it out?

Well, not quite yet.  First, we have to learn from it.

We can be thoughtful….  humbled… understand what happened… have a resource check… stand back….. assess…..reflect.

Then, once you have understood what happened, then take action. What will you change?  And not what you will change about ‘that other person.’ :)

Once you have done this, then yes, you can throw out the past.  Don’t carry that heavy bangle of chains around your neck.  You’re going to focus on the best which will bring an amazing sense of wonder and energy moving forward.

Norman Vincent Peale was the pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City from 1922 to 1974.  He founded Guidposts in 1945.  He published his best selling The Power of Positive Thinking in 1952. His other books include The Art of Living, A Guide to Confident Living (also a radio show), The Tough-Minded Optimist and Inspiring Messages for Daily Living.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Vincent_Peale