Lean Quote: Prisoner of the Past or Pioneer of the Future

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future."   —  Deepak Chopra

It’s unlikely that many of us would want our lives to look exactly the same in 10 years as it does today. Yet we often resist change rather than embrace it, bringing old responses to new situations. Embracing change requires courage, resiliency, insight and perspective.

Making a conscious decision to let go and free yourself is key. Without freedom from the past there really is no freedom to embrace the future. Here are some tips to help you let go of the past:

1.     Challenge yourself – Ask yourself a very fundamental question. How am I benefiting from the past activity. Once you clearly understand that it doesn’t serve you in any way it will help you detach yourself from it. Learn the lesson and more on.

2.     Don’t over analyze - Let’s face it: kicking the past around and living in the land of " What if?" is not only exhausting; but not helpful. Under no circumstances “should on yourself” If you hear yourself saying “should have”, “would have” or “could have” all you will do is make yourself feel disappointed and regretful.

3.     See mistakes as stepping stones - Some of the best and most precious lessons I have learnt in my life have come from my biggest mistakes and potential set backs not when everything was a walk in in the park. Remember you weren't born to be perfect you were born to be real and real people make mistakes, so learn the lesson and move on...!

Every day — every moment — is a new beginning, one in which we have the opportunity to think, feel and respond in new ways. We get to plant the seeds of who we are becoming and set new patterns of our choosing into motion. We also can choose to neglect ourselves to varying degrees and, on autopilot, keep recreating the past. For some it’s frightening to consider the power they have in their own lives.