How to stop thinking about what I did in the past
Jan 24, 2024
You know what's really cool. I've never made a mistake in my life, so this is a tougher video to connect with. Ahh, I'm just kidding. We all make mistakes and sometimes our brain won't let us move forward, even if it was 20 years ago. Today, we're going to talk about how to get over mistakes in the past and live the life you want to live. We've all made mistakes in the past, whether they're big or small, and it's easy to get stuck in a cycle of regret and self-blame. We've even had experiences that we're sometimes unsure all the details and our brain filled in the rest with negative information.
However, dwelling on the past can have a negative impact on our mental health and overall well-being. In this video, we'll explore some strategies that can help you move past mistakes, reduce anxiety, and live a happier, more fulfilling life. Let's get started.
When we make mistakes, it's natural to feel regret and disappointment. However, it's important to accept that mistakes are a normal part of life. I don't think you need me to tell you this. Nobody is perfect, and it's impossible to avoid mistakes entirely. Instead of beating yourself up over past mistakes, try to accept them as opportunities for growth and learning. Accepting your mistakes can help you move past them and focus on the future.
I see you in the comments. Wow Nate. Accept them. I'm golden and will never think about them again...thanks for nothing..we're not done yet.
REAL-EVENT OCD TREATMENT
Although it's important to accept past mistakes, it's equally important to learn from them. Take some time to reflect on what went wrong and what you could have done differently. This reflection can help you identify patterns in your behaviour or decision-making that may have contributed to the mistake. Once you've identified these patterns, you can work on changing them to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
That's what life is all about. Once we make the mistake and have learned from it, we should be able to move on. If we can't, there is a feedback loop in our brain that is faulty. Think of it like a broken record that's across the room repeating the same phrases, but you're to far to adjust it and are stuck listening to the same thing over and over again.
This is the loop we need to change and it's totally possible.
One thing that is super important is self-compassion.
Self-compassion is the practice of being kind and understanding towards yourself, especially in difficult or challenging situations. When we make mistakes, it's easy to be hard on ourselves and engage in negative self-talk. However, practicing self-compassion can help you feel more positive and empowered. Instead of berating yourself for past mistakes, try to treat yourself with kindness and understanding. Remember that everyone makes mistakes, and you deserve compassion just like anyone else.
You may spend time writing down all the mistakes that come to mind and then write down all the things you've learned from these experiences and how you can use it toward the future.
If the brain STILL won't let it go and makes you doubt yourself and your future with full force, that's where we take out the big guns. Exposure and response prevention.
This is a type of therapy that can help you retrain your brain to take value away from the feelings associated with past mistakes. ERP involves exposing yourself to the thoughts, feelings, and situations that trigger anxiety or distress, and then practicing response prevention techniques to overcome these feelings. This therapy can be highly effective in helping you move past past mistakes and live a happier life.
Here's an example of what ERP might look like. I may write down the event or story my brain produces about the past mistake and then spend time reading it or recording and listening to the story and practice taking value away. Phrases like,
"oh yep, I remember when that happened." "sure, it could happen again" "anything is possible." "I'm glad I'm having these thoughts." "I love making mistakes." "maybe, maybe not." "yep, sure, okay, thanks."
It's promotes more of an acceptance and uncertainty about the past and future. What we're not doing is say...
It's okay, everyone makes mistakes. Just learn from it gal darny. It doesn't matter anymore. You're a good person. Stop worrying about it.
This is what the world says to do, But what does the world know. You be you. The reason why don't use these common phrases is because they don't work. If it did, you wouldn't be thinking about the past thing you did anymore.
Instead, were breaking this faulty loop and saying. "I DON'T CARE." without actually saying I don't care. When you're not reacting to the loud alarms, they slow down, they get quiet.
Even body language makes a difference, smile, even if it was in your mind a horrible thing you did. Because guess what? You're living life right now. What are you doing right now that is worth while.
When guilt and shame get thrown in the mix, we even respond to these as false signals. I'm loving this guilt right now. Yes, this feeling is great. I want it to stay all day. please please please don't leave me. What do you think the brain's going to think. What the heck, why aren't you scared...something is different captain.
Another strategy for getting over past mistakes is to focus on the present moment. When we dwell on the past, we can become stuck in a cycle of regret and self-blame that prevents us from enjoying the present moment. Engage in activities that bring you joy, connect with loved ones, and practice mindfulness or meditation to help you stay in the present moment.
If these past mistakes haunt you day after day and cause lots of anxiety, you may be experiencing real event ocd. It's is a type of OCD that involves persistent and intrusive thoughts about a past event. These thoughts can be extremely distressing and can interfere with daily life. While everyone experiences intrusive thoughts from time to time, those with Real Event OCD are unable to let go of these thoughts and may engage in compulsive behaviours to try to alleviate the anxiety they feel. If you're struggling to get over past mistakes, it's important to differentiate between normal regret and Real Event OCD.
If you OCD, I've got you covered with my master your ocd recovery course, I'll link that down in the description.
Finally, one of the most effective strategies for getting over past mistakes is to move toward your values. When we focus on living a life that is aligned with our values, we are less likely to get stuck in the past. Take some time to reflect on what is important to you and what you want to achieve in life. Then, take steps to move toward these values. This can help you feel more fulfilled and empowered, and can make it easier to let go of past mistakes.
I hope this video has been helpful in giving you some strategies for getting over past mistakes and living a happier life. If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our channel for more content like this. You're going to freakin' beat this thing. I'm in your corner. Speaking of corner, is there another video here you're supposed to be watching next. There is, go click on it my friend.