I don't advocate spending time in the past. It takes all of the attention we can muster to live in the present. Living in the past is an escape to avoid the present.
I do believe if something from the past keeps popping up it must be important. It doesn't have to be a bad thought. Good thoughts from the past pop up, too. However, when a negative thought keeps jumping in and out of our conscious mind, perhaps we had better take notice.
Life in the present is effected by our past experiences. Notably, we give credit to life's lessons, both pleasant and agonizing, that molded us into who we are today. But, we forget the "lessons" that were presented to us by experiences that left writings on our wall. Messages that we were no good in one way or another. Messages that spoke of unworthiness, shame, guilt and failure. Writings left from both adversaries and friends, teachers, family, and other trusted care takers.
It mattered not whether the messages were delivered with good intentions or malice. The unconscious recorded each and every one without discrimination.
And in the unconscious the recordings remain. Doing their damage by sabotaging our every effort toward success. Exactly why I encourage releasing the negative thoughts that surface to our conscious mind.
Addressing suspect conscious issues may lead to those issues, perhaps core issues, not in our conscious mind. The very culprits we are after.
