One of my favourite quotes is “Life can be only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward.” by Soren Kierkegaard.

In my opinion it is so true. It is only when we look back, reflect on something we can find the wisdom in it.

Yet for so many, they get stuck in that place and cannot see the wisdom, free themselves and move forward.

This shift from the past event/situation being “bad” to being “an experience, with learnings and growth” – is a personal one to be sure.

The math however looks something like this – the longer you stay in the past / bad, the  unhappier you are, the shorter the time period from moving from the bad to wisdom place, the happier you are.

It does take a leap of faith to actually reflect on the past to see any good in it.

The Catch 22 in all of this is that the more you have resentment & regret about the past, the more fear you have about the future, which in fact does keep you stuck.

However, if you can find the strength to just take even the smallest of looks, find something to be grateful for in this moment about that time, you are in fact freeing yourself in that very moment. It really can be that simple.

That is the power of reflection and it can be so beautiful if you are willing to take the chance.