The Seeds of Today Were Planted Yesterday

Life can be very tough. Many people find life difficult, with difficult work environments, unsatisfactory relationships, time and money pressures. We usually manage to keep our heads above water but for many people it isn't easy – they spend much of their time trying to find their feet. What only makes it worse is that we are fighting today's battles – and still fighting yesterday's too. It can be a surprise to realise that the seeds of today were planted yesterday.

All of today's problems – and yesterday's as well

One of the difficulties is that we are not just dealing with the problems of today. If it wasn't enough, we are not just trying to cope with difficult work relationships or a frustrating home life, we are also trying to deal with the effects of the difficult, unresolved and even sometimes traumatic relationships that we have had in the past. These difficult relationships of the past, especially ones from our early life, can set the tone and the nature of our current relationships.

Time and again, we find ourselves repeating aspects of unsatisfactory relationships from the past with the people currently in our lives. We are trying to deal with the past and present all at once – no wonder we find it so difficult.

Bogged down by the past

Similarly, sometimes we can get stuck thinking too much about the things we have done the past that we are ashamed of. These memories of what we have done bog us down and rob us of our clarity and decisiveness; we become paralysed by our mistakes from the past and have difficulty managing our feelings and understanding that today is different.

Put the past in the past

Good psychotherapy helps put the past in the past. It can help you understand and deal with your unfinished business and residual feelings; this allows you more flexibility and freedom to try to handle today's difficult situations on their own terms.

Tell me what you think in the comments.

– Tim Hill

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