Can Your Past Dictate Your Future?

“Just because the past didn’t turn out like you wanted it to, doesn’t mean your future can’t be better than imagined.” -Unknown

Keep this in mind whenever you try to just your future based on what you have done in the past. When you judge your future based on your past, then of course you will repeat the same cycle over and over. This will cause you to have a lack of confidence, faith in yourself and your higher power, and no desire to want to change your life. When you decide to leave the past alone and focus on today being the start of a new future, you will begin to start a new cycle that will hopefully show you the light towards something better. This will cause you to be fearful at first, but you will feel better about life and the choice you will make.

Even though it has been said that a person’s past actions are major indicators of what they will do in the future, it does not mean you have to be apart of that statement when things are going bad in life. People are judged as such simply because they have not broken the cycle of bad habits and choices that keep them stuck in their situation. For me, it was that way until I chose to do something about it.

When I was starting out as an adult, I had a lot of goals and dreams that I had envisioned. My problem was the fact that even though I had the goals and dreams, it was the bad choices and quitting when things were difficult that caused me not to succeed in anything. It was that way for college, some jobs, and even my finances. It did leave me at a point where I felt hopeless because it seemed like nothing I do would bring change.

It was not until I answered an online job bulletin to enlist in the military that began the change in my life. At first, when I told people of my decision, it was met with skepticism and opposition from most people who I knew, but inside, I knew there would be something different about this experience that could change everything. What would make this experience different in my vision was the fact even though I had the goals and dreams, I wanted to prove to myself and to those who had doubted me that I actually did make a good choice in going and that I was not going to quit. Despite the challenges that were set in front of me, I will say that military showed me the importance of how the core values (Honor, Courage, and Commitment)  can guide me toward achieving anything. Because of the choice I made in 2006, here is how my future turned out from that point:

• I was able to get my finances on track and is still on track to where I am successful as an investor of stocks and land.
• I have been able to travel to and live in many places that I thought would never happen as a kid.
• I was blessed with the opportunity to meet some great friends and even became a father.
• Most importantly, I transformed from a “I wish I could” person into a “I am doing and did it” person with my life.

You do not have to let your past dictate your future. If you want the past to stay in the past, leave it behind and accept something new. It may bring discomfort at first, but it would be worth it as long as you are willing to let it take hold of you and let it shape your current life into the future you are destined to be apart of. Let’s remember that if your future is guided on your past mistakes, you will live the same life today and tomorrow; if your future is guided on the changes you make today, will start a new life today and have a better tomorrow.

-Michael J. Fite