But Guide for Youths and Leaders in Liberia Part-3

John Barrymore wrote: “A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.” We all have done things that, on looking back, we regret. There were things said which ought not to have been said. There were things which ought to have been said but were not said. There were things which ought to be said but were said at the wrong time and in the wrong way. There were places which ought not to have been visited but which we frequented. There were relationships which ought not to have cultivated but which we nurtured and cherished.

We all have situations and circumstances that if given a second chance we will do and handle differently. If only we can turn back the clock, we think many times, but unfortunately regret can never turn back the clock. John Mason wrote: “Regret looks back. Worries look around. Vision looks up.”

If regret cannot turn back the clock then it is futile to want to live in regret. Regret is a bitter pill you can always refuse to swallow. Living in regret is exhibiting and living with negative emotions. Living life under the shadow of regret is like being sentenced to a life imprisonment of bitterness, anger and frustration. Living in regret burns the bridge that will take you from the past to the future. Yesterday has gone so wake up to a brand new day and leave the dark shadow of the pains, sorrows and regret of yesterday behind. Get over your disappointment Get over your sorrow. Get over your failure. Get over your regret.

The Bible in Proverbs 1: 32 states – “Don’t you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots? Carelessness kills; complacency is murder.” Friend, achievement in any endeavor helps your self esteem. You feel fulfilled. You feel relevant. You feel accomplished. You feel useful. However, the accomplishment of great things can turn to be a disadvantage. Past achievement can be the enemy of future achievements. Care must be taken not to allow your past or present achievements from getting into your hands.

You must not misjudge your past achievements, accomplishments and awards. Your past success can be your undoing because good is the enemy of best. When you face the battle of life as a defending champion you are likely to underrate your opponents, which most times is the undoing of champions. However, if you approach life, each time, as a challenger you stand the chance to muster the entire arsenal at your disposal to win the fight of life. There is always room for improvement

The enemy of your future success is your present success. When you think you have arrived you are likely to lapse into complacency and the door to mediocrity is about to open. You must understand that yesterday’s excellence is today’s mediocrity.

When your past brings you good memories it should be used as a motivational tool to do more. Your attitude should be if I could achieve this much, then I can achieve much more. Don’t misjudge the past and don’t mishandle the present. This life is filled with people who were celebrated as trailblazers but, who due to the feeling of having arrived, today are nowhere to be found. They have become history.

Friend, the past is gone and gone forever and you have transited from the past – you are now in the present, in the “now zone” of your life. “That which is achieved most still has the whole of its future yet to be achieved.” Lao Tzu. Philippians 3:13 puts it this way “No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing; Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”

(Chealy Brown Dennis is a motivational speaker and offers training in leadership and organizational development; creative sales and marketing, strategic planning and team building. He also offers workbooks, on-location and train-the-trainer formats for leaders, managers, businesses and organizations. He can be contacted through email at: dennisbc2011@yahoo.com or on phone at: 0886-264-611 or 0776-545-394)