Posted by Dinah on May 20, 2012, at 22:22:19
In reply to So embarrassed over the past!, posted by Christ_empowered on May 20, 2012, at 22:10:15
I think everyone feels this way to one extent or another.
This may sound odd, but the most helpful experience I've ever had was to receive absolution. And it's not even a part of my religious tradition! It would be nice to have that on a formal basis, I think.
But if you feel regret for the things you've done in the past, if you take responsibility for them, and if you in all sincerity resolve to do differently in the future, and if you do your best to repair any damage you've caused, then what more can you do? The past is the past, and however embarrassing it may be, it can't be changed.
Each moment we make choices that bring us to the point we are right now. But with each new choice we make, we have a chance to be reborn, or at least to shed our old selves and start again. Maybe we can't immediately shed the baggage of the memories of others. But if you continually act as the person you are now, eventually memories will fade and most people, if they do remember, will mostly think how far you've come.
poster:Dinah
thread:1018336
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120508/msgs/1018342.html