Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13–14 (NLT)
To have a healthy self-esteem, it is essential to let go of the past. When all you do is look at the past, it is like driving a car that has a tiny windshield and a massive rear-view mirror. You cannot enjoy the beautiful scenery that is all around you, nor can you get excited about where you are heading next. Refuse to hold on to grudges. Instead, focus on the fact that people change and grow.
Offence keeps you stuck in the past, but so can successes. If all you do is rehash past accomplishments, you may never live in the present. When Paul said that he aimed to forget what was behind him, he didn’t distinguish. Don’t let your past, good or bad, limit your future.
When you face change, embrace it as a challenge; don’t see it as a roadblock.
Many are afraid of change, and if you struggle with low self-esteem, change may be particularly difficult for you. Because you view yourself and the world in general from a negative slant, you will struggle to see the positive side of the change. You may lose sleep over it and come up with lists of reasons why the change won’t work. If this is you, realize your habit and break it. You can learn to respond well to change. Delays and detours are an excuse to say, “God must have something even better for me!” When problems come your way, smile and say “I needed a good challenge today anyway!”