I want you to recognise that while you remain a product of your past, it does not define who you are now or will be.
The person you are today results from every thought, emotion and belief formed over the years. Whilst your past shapes your present reality, it should not define whom you intend to become in the years ahead.
Every decision ever made has led you to this point in time. It was done so with a level of awareness clear to you at the time. So who you were in your teenage years is not the same person you are today.
While I state the obvious, many people unknowingly recall their past mistakes and regrets, while overshadowing the present moment. Remaining attentive and mindful to the past allows us to create our life’s circumstances, imbued with enthusiasm and curiosity.
Mindfulness has become a popular movement nowadays, owing to the growing number of programs, courses and books offering to teach you the principles espoused in Eastern traditions. The practice invites you bring your thoughts to the forefront of your mind, than allow them to subdue you by acting on impulsive thoughts.
Mindfulness is call to become aware and awake to the stirring of your inner world. You cultivate an inner awareness and presence of your predominant thoughts and feelings. This allows you to notice the inner shifts, rather than be consumed by runaway thoughts and the ensuing emotions.
My interest in the self-help movement become clear through the number of people I have worked with over the years. It became clear to my clients, that as they managed their thoughts with a compassionate heart, their incessant thoughts no longer dominated their lives. They were at peace in both their personal and professional lives. Importantly, their health improved over time, since they learned to turn the volume down on the endless thoughts which threatened their inner wellbeing.
So what does this mean to you? Well consider the last enraged thought you had while driving to work, in which you were cut off by an inconsiderate motorist. Realise the thoughts and emotions which flooded your body and mind in those split seconds.
Reacting to the outside world has become an all too common event that road rage is now a term found in Webster’s Dictionary. We react rather than allow such fleeting experiences to pass through us. I am not suggesting we become enlightened monks overnight, yet we can disallow external events to shape and define us, by remaining attentive to our inner world.
Like a ship sailing through stormy waters, there is a greater chance it will make safe passage to calmer waters if it does not resist the current or force its way.
Your mind is much the same. Each thought and accompanying emotion has the power to derail your homeostasis if left unchecked – that is your inner state of equilibrium. Many of us do not find the time to engage in self-examination, yet wonder why life goes astray when we fail to connect with our deepest self.
In the same way, if you hear a strange noise emanating from your car’s engine, you should have it checked out by your mechanic. While I’m not implying we check in with a mental health professional, we have the wherewithal to become our own psychologist by noticing the ebb and flow of our thoughts and emotions before they wreak havoc in our lives.
As we attend to this, we connect with our inner world, while learning the language of the heart which communicates to us through silent whispers.
Reconstructing The Past to Create a Remarkable Future will allow you to connect with your deepest self. To reconstruct the past is a call to heal and make peace with any unwelcomed situation which you continue to carry into the present moment – thus not serving your highest potential.
The following passage by Katherine Ponder is testament that forgiveness, compassion and an open heart are the doorway to bringing peace to a troubled past, “When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.”
This book is divided into two parts. Part I of the book is titled, Let Go of The Past. The chapters contained within Part I will help you to make peace with the past while creating a remarkable future, devoid of the associated baggage.
Similarly it was Louis B. Smedes’ quote which reminds us, “Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future.”
I invite you to create a new way to remember the past, without the ensuing emotions and a powerful and compelling future in which to expect.
Part II of the book is titled, Create a Remarkable Future. The chapters contained within this section will guide you toward forming a powerful script for the future, by honouring the wisdom that lives within you.
There are no exercises to perform throughout the book. There are no lesson plans, no questionnaires or quizzes to undertake. I have structured the book so as the knowledge and material contained within, will offer you with the adequate resources to awaken your potential. This potential has always been stirring within, yet til now has not been called upon.
This is about to change.
I welcome you to Reconstructing The Past to Create a Remarkable Future and trust that by the close of this book, you will have formed the mental and emotional wherewithal to bring empowering changes to your life, which you have long hoped.
I wish you much success, health and happiness.
TONY FAHKRY
I wrote the book in response to my work with clients and audiences over the years. It seems that everyone has a past which they would rather forget or mistakes which they regret. The book is a call to heal and make peace with the past by reframing it in order to appreciate the lessons gained. As we do so, we activate a gateway into a brighter future, since we refuse to carry the baggage of the past with us any longer. To live the life we seek, we must be willing to forgive and transform our sorrows and regret, otherwise they will haunt us mentally and emotionally. I wish to give readers a roadmap on how to access a fulfilling life, which is possible when we transform our sorrows and pain into joy.
Tony is a leading health and self-empowerment expert. He brings over ten years’ experience at the highest level as a health professional, speaker, author and coach. His understanding and integration of mind and body concepts bridges the gap between health, well-being and human behaviour.