LOOKING (AND LIVING) FORWARD RATHER THAN DWELLING (AND HIDING) IN THE PAST

Many people live within the memories of their past, dwelling in thoughts of the safe places that bring them happiness and security as they live comfortably within a sheltered world of accomplishments. When life is contained within established thoughts and dreams of “what is” and re-enactments of “what has been,” however, we may never realize our full potential. When we drive forward while gazing intently through the rearview mirror, we are able to see clearly where we have been and what we have done but far too often miss where we are going or what we could become (as well as being unable to avoid what might be coming that we cannot see when focusing on what has already been done).

Some dream of what could be, casting off the limitations of “what is” or “what was” in favor of the promise and possibility of what has not yet been considered. They spend more time thinking of how things might be different than they have shown themselves to be…how the established processes that have worked well might be modified and how those that have left much to be desired can be replaced with something new (and potentially untested). They seek the possible rather than the proven and often find satisfaction in the PROCESS of change as much as they do in the RESULTS they attain.

In order to make a difference in our lives (and in the lives of those around us) - to achieve that which was considered improbable (or even impossible) by others – we need but our eyes to see where we are going and our minds to consider changes to where we have been.  We need to cast our vision upon where we want to be…limiting our potential ONLY by the self-imposed barriers placed before us by our inability to act or our unwillingness to stretch (and failure to challenge) accepted boundaries that were established by others. Understanding the cause and purpose of what we see requires our mind to bring to fruition the potential…to bring to reality the dreams that we see within our imagination when we open our eyes to see what CAN be done rather than focusing upon what HAS been done.

While there is comfort in living a life that we know “works” (because it has always worked in the past), there is also danger in driving forward while looking backwards. Focusing upon what has been done (or not done) may help us to fully understand our history…to dwell within and gain from our successes as we marvel upon our accomplishments…but we cannot anticipate the changing road in front of us nor the pitfalls (OR possibilities) that might lie ahead. When we live in the present and find comfort in the past (in who and what we have established ourselves to be), we may be successful and accomplish all others ask or expect of us BUT will rarely achieve MORE than the “minimum” or truly fulfill our potential (as we become content to “merely” fully demonstrating our proven abilities). If we wish to realize our own desires and live out our own dreams, we must look forward more than backwards…seek what has yet to come (AND how we will get there) rather than finding comfort in what has already been…as we move intentionally (and relentlessly) ahead towards “worlds unknown” and destinations not yet imagined.

The rearview mirror does have value. It reminds us of what we can do…of what can be accomplished…of the recognition we have been given because of the way we led others to grow and meet the expectations of those around them…of the things that provide us both pleasure (that we can replicate) and pain (that we can avoid). Our dreams, however – that can be seen only when we look forward rather than backwards – provide an indication of what has yet to come – leading us to places not yet realized from which we can either expand our horizons OR pick ourselves up after we have fallen, seeking what could be possible while learning from our failures as we achieve new and different realities. All things that have already been accomplished were once dreams that were brought to fruition through the efforts and abilities we possess…that we leveraged to our benefit and advantage. To stop dreaming, however, means to accept what has been done as all that could possibly be accomplished…to virtually draw a line in the sand that we refuse to cross for fear of what might be on the other side.

If we are content to live wholly within “today’s world” we may be able to test established limitations and expand upon existing practices in order to achieve more others thought probable while accomplishing all that might be expected of us by another. If one ceases to dream, can he or she continue to grow? Should one be content to live in the past…to talk about all that was done and all that resulted from their actions…can one truly even continue to exist as anything but an empty shell or a hollow seed pod drifting uncontrollably upon the wind? There are many people in the world willing and content to be who and what they are…to please and satisfy others by doing what is asked of them, escaping to the comfort (or familiarity) of their residence in the company of those they enjoy (or sometimes simply tolerate) before returning to do what was asked in the manner that was expected, repeating the cycle and receiving the same results through repetitively similar efforts.

There are others, however, that will do what is expected while expanding the expectations placed upon them because of their need to accomplish what CAN be done (rather than doing only what MUST be done). They seek to add value to the lives of those around them so that all can contribute and grow while finding pleasure and contentment not only in what they have but reaching for what they might wish to achieve and seeking ways to go places they might wish to visit. They remember the past while enjoying the moment but live for what has yet to be realized (or, sometimes, has yet to be considered), receiving desired results through unique activities, independent thoughts, and individual efforts.

When we actively and intentionally work to accomplish much and dream of what more might be done or what other roads might yet be travelled as we look to what might be rather than finding comfort in what is or has been, we can live yesterday’s dreams by bringing them to fruition today…and create tomorrows pathways by dreaming about what may be in our future rather than focusing upon what we have already done…making today’s accomplishments but yesterday’s memories to be built upon as we grow rather than dwelled within as we stagnate.