“Looking back won’t move you forward. Let the past go.
Cyndie Spiegel
Move on with the grace and wisdom that you’ve learned from every yesterday.
Forgive yourself everything. You can’t change what didn’t happen or shift what did.
Instead, live in the moment and look for all the beautiful possibility that today is filled with.”
This is a very different kind of post from what I normally share on the Marathon blog. The stimulus to write came from a conversation I had with a photographer several months back. He was filled with remorse for so many things he felt he’d done wrong in his business. He repeatedly looked back and said, “I should have…”
Like many of you, I’ve wasted time looking back. When I read the passage above, I loved the way she talked about what we’ve learned from every yesterday. Then came forgiving myself. When I look at my regrets both personal and business related, they mostly revolve around miscommunication, followed by a volley of wasted anger, disappointment, regret, and, in the end, nothing I could change.
The wonderful thing about imaging is that nothing is forever. If you made a wrong choice along the way, then change what you do the next time. Never slow down on expanding your skill set and keep raising the bar on ways to keep building brand awareness. You’re judged on the quality of your work and your passion for the craft, which includes communication and how you build the relationships with members of your target audience.
Looking back with regrets and things you wish you had done differently is a waste of time. So learn from your mistakes and most important of all, don’t should on yourself.
P.S. Sheila, and I got into a great habit many years ago – reading something inspirational every morning out loud to each other. Not everything we read always hits home, but now and then, there’s a gem like the quote I’ve shared above.
