SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Busting Free of the Past Loop

Day 24, 50 questions for deep self-reflection

This is day 24 of the 50 Questions for Deep Self-Reflection challenge from Know Thyself Heal Thyself created by Diana C.

DAY TWENTY-FOUR: How can you escape from the loop of your past?

What is the loop of my past?

This is a great question and one I am still trying to answer. I suppose the first thing to do here would be to define what loop of my past refers to and then look at why I may want to escape it. To me, I feel like the loop of my past is referring to doing the same thing, reacting in the same way, experiencing the same triggers, the same traumas, etc. It’s that ultimate question: Have you learned your lesson?

I have an example to share. When I was learning to create and set boundaries, the Universe tested me good and proper by sending into my life a couple who had no interest in respecting my boundaries. However, they were people that I wasn’t emotionally connected to. It was a good opportunity for me to exercise creating and holding boundaries with people that were in my life, temporarily, and thus build those muscles and learn those lessons I could take forth. It wasn’t easy. And I can’t say I am now a master of my boundaries, but it was definitely a solid exploration and practice in preparation for dealing with those situations with people that do matter to me and that I do have an emotional and long-term connection with.

So I think that for me, that is what it means to loop in the past. If I hadn’t explored my boundaries and began setting those, I would have kept looping in the past, stuck in that unhealthy people-pleaser experience. Now that we’ve defined that, do I want to escape it? Hells yeah, I do. I see those things as boundaries and blockages. Perhaps escape is not the right word. Perhaps a better word for me would be break. I want to break the loop so that when I come around to the crack the next time I can’t continue on. I want to snap it.

So, how do I snap the loop of my past?

• By becoming aware of beliefs and standards and challenging those.
• By asking myself, “Is this a belief that serves me? Is there a better belief? Do I want to hold on to this or move it?”
• By allowing myself to be challenged when I choose to change a belief and being okay with not getting it right the first time, or even the first 10 times.
• By knowing that awareness is 95% of the journey and that the rest is just a flick of a switch to change perception.

I think the most important answer to how can I escape from the loop of my past is:

BY WANTING TO.

If you are interested in the journey so far — all the days that came before, I’ve collected all the article links here:

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