Thoughts on the future when you’re stuck in the past.

One thing I’ve always disliked is when you’re in an interview or something where you get that dreaded question.

“What do you want to do?” or “Where do you see yourself in 5- or 10-years’ time?”

Now, whenever I get asked that question. I freeze.

Because I am stuck in the past. I hold my hands up. I am stuck in the past.

Not because I want to be. Because I am simply where my brain takes me, and my brain is stuck in the past.

It is stuck on trauma.

Now there are many reasons for this. And there are many explanations but primarily mental health issues. Now normally I dislike, using the terminology ‘issues.’ However, I’d like it to be something I can reclaim.

I’ve got issues.

So as everyone else.

Now, throughout the many, many years of therapy and CBT, etc.

I only just realized you cannot arrange your future if you are stuck in the past.

And if you asked me now.

“Where do you see yourself in 5 in 10 years.”

I’m not going to tell you it’s going to be doing a job or being some high-flying accountant or starting a family.

I just want to be alive.

Of course, everyone wants to succeed. It’s a brilliant thing to succeed in life. However, to me, living is succeeding.

I have never seen it in that way. Until recently, and I think it is so important that even no matter how many times our mind takes us to the past.

We must remember that. It’s only temporary.

Our brain isn’t always going to take us back there. It is going to move us forward and you will most likely, not even think about where your mind once was.

We are so lucky to be here.

Because not everyone makes it through the night and not everyone wakes up in the morning.

We are lucky to do so. And we are lucky to be on this earth.

No matter what the past tells us, no matter what the past trauma has made us believe, if we weren’t meant to be here, we wouldn’t be here.

And I really hope that saying this convinces me.

Because as much as I love motivational speaking.

I’m the kind of person who needs it most.