Just because a past tragedy lives rent free in your mind, doesn’t mean you can’t kick them out and evict them.  Believe you deserve more.  You’re here now, you have a life to live, and there is a reason for your existence.   There is something that you’re still meant to do with your life, even if you don’t know what it is right now.  Once you begin on your journey of letting go of the past, the objective of your new future will reveal itself.  It is within you to find your new life.  Just don’t wait too long to finally get there.

 The past can never be entirely your fault and beating yourself up about it, only makes it that much longer for you to wait until your life gets better.  Here are the first steps to begin turning things around for the better.

1. Stop believing that you lack the ability to make positive changes for your future.
2. Get a journal and write down all your thoughts, (I like to call this a “brain-dump”).  Everything that comes into your mind – good or bad, just write it all down.  Once your mind is empty, now write down the things you want to change.  All your ideas are welcome here, and anything is possible.
3. Okay, let’s put away the journal for a day or two.  Now I want you to do something that makes you happy.  Maybe a day at the spa, a lunch out with friends; honestly, it could be anything, as long as it gets you out of your pajamas and out of the house.
4. When you come back, read over your journal.  Start brainstorming and finding ways to make all those dreams and possibilities for change a reality.
5. Try to use the past to take you in another direction.  Often times staying in the same environment where a tragedy occurred, forces you to experience PTSD, (post-traumatic stress disorder) and the only way to start feeling better is to start over in a new community, a new job, or even a new life.
6. If you can, try to also use your pain to help others.  This is one of the best ways to become mentally stronger.  When you use your tragedy to help others going through similar situations, you now not only rescue another broken soul, but you begin to heal your own.