Look Back at What’s Ahead

Audio By Carbonatix

Students in driver’s training classes are taught to continuously look in the rearview mirror to check on what is coming up behind them. It’s part of a defensive driving strategy. They are taught to always be aware of their surroundings and what other drivers are doing so they can prepare a quick defense should something unexpected happen. The idea is to “glance” in the rearview mirror, but then look back quickly to what is ahead of you. It’s good advice for driving, and for living your life.

There’s a little quote my wife often says to me: “Smart men learn from their own mistakes, but wise men learn from the mistakes of others.” In this case, I am often guilty of being smart rather than wise. One definition for “wise” I found in the dictionary says, “having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion.”

One of the best ways I can do that is to follow the principle of defensive driving and glance back momentarily at my life before quickly changing my gaze to look ahead again. Unfortunately, many of us look back at regrettable circumstances that occurred in our life and it paralyzes us from moving forward. Either we haven’t forgiven ourselves or we haven’t figured out how to let it go. We actually hang onto it like an infant does with a favorite blanket. In order for an infant to grow into a child, however, they have to learn to let go and leave the blanket behind.

Applying that to driving principles, what if we got stuck looking in our rearview mirror and never looked forward? We’d crash into the car ahead of us. I have a few of those situations from my past—some that I greatly regret. But since I can’t go back and change them, it might be wise for me to seek counseling in order to continue to move forward. Although I can’t change my past, I can change my behavior in the future. This new behavior is what people will remember about me from here on out. If you’re living from a moment in your past, I’m guessing it’s not helping your future.

It’s human nature to look at our past and focus on the negative behavior. Very seldom do we look back and see all the wonderful things that our lives have been filled with. Today, I’m suggesting that you purposely look back and write down some of the great things you have done. It won’t be easy, because it is the opposite of how we’ve been trained, but write down at least one good deed.

People don’t often take the time to say nice things about us until our funeral. Standing around the casket, they say things like, “Boy wasn’t he a good old egg?” or, “Wasn’t she a wonderful lady?” Why didn’t they tell us that when we were alive? I’m challenging you to look back and see where you have made a difference. Go forward with a more positive attitude, a hopeful spirit, and try to be a better person tomorrow than you were today. That’s not always easy to do, but I know it will help you win at home.