THE REARVIEW MIRROR IS NOT THE WINDSHIELD
“To move forward, you have to leave the past behind.” Susannah Cahalan
It sounds so simple when we read those words on paper, doesn't it? Leave the past behind. Move forward. As Nike famously tells us, “Just do it!” Oh, if only life were that simple! The interesting thing about being human is that we carry our experiences with us, not only in our memories but also in the emotions attached to them. Some memories bring laughter, warmth, and gratitude. Others can bring us right back to a moment when we felt frightened, helpless, betrayed, or hurt. It is almost as though the experience is happening all over again. And sometimes, our bodies become part of that story.
I recently experienced an injury to my knee. Now, this isn't just any knee. This particular knee has quite a history! There was a sports injury many years ago, followed by a couple of accidents, and then the added challenge of bone and cartilage deterioration. It has certainly been through its share of adventures, although not necessarily the kind I would have chosen. When I hurt it again, I realized that I wasn't simply dealing with a new injury. I was also remembering all the previous times this knee had caused me pain, discomfort, and limitations. My mind immediately started revisiting those experiences. Would this take a long time to heal? Would I be able to continue doing the things I love? Was I going to be sidelined again? Isn't that interesting? One moment I was dealing with what was happening in the present, and the next moment my mind had opened the filing cabinet of the past and pulled out every related memory it could find! I suspect many of us do this without even realizing it. We experience something painful, whether physically or emotionally, and suddenly the old stories begin playing again. A disappointment reminds us of a previous rejection. A disagreement brings back memories of an old relationship. A physical injury awakens fears connected to earlier experiences. The past comes knocking, and sometimes we open the door and invite it to stay.
Yet, I have come to understand something important. Leaving the past behind does not mean pretending it never happened. It means learning how to carry the wisdom without continually carrying the suffering. Our emotions deserve acknowledgment. They are not something to be stuffed into a closet, covered with a spiritual Band-Aid, or dismissed with a cheerful affirmation. Fear, sadness, grief, and anger need space to be recognized and processed. Sometimes that happens through prayer, meditation, tears, journaling, a compassionate conversation, or the guidance of someone trained to help us navigate difficult experiences. And sometimes healing simply requires patience, rest, and allowing the body to receive the care it needs.
As I reflected on my knee, I realized how easy it would be to let the history of that injury determine my expectations for the future. I could focus on everything that had gone wrong before, or I could acknowledge those experiences while remaining open to a different outcome this time.
That doesn't mean ignoring the physical realities of healing. My knee still needs attention, and recovery may take time. But I don't have to add yesterday's fears to today's discomfort. There is a beautiful freedom in that realization.
Throughout my Peace On Earth Tour, I have traveled thousands of miles, encountered countless challenges, and learned over and over again that the road ahead cannot be fully experienced while constantly looking in the rearview mirror. The rearview mirror has a purpose. It helps us understand where we have been. But imagine trying to drive the Angelmobile across the country while looking backward the entire time! That would certainly make for an interesting adventure, but probably not one I would want to repeat!
Life works much the same way. We can honor our history without allowing it to dictate our destination. We can acknowledge our wounds without making them our identity. We can be grateful for the lessons without volunteering to repeat the painful experiences. And perhaps most importantly, we can give ourselves permission to heal at our own pace. Some days moving forward looks like taking a giant leap of faith. Other days it looks like taking one careful step on a tender knee. Both are progress.
Dear Angels, how do we truly leave the past behind when our minds and bodies seem to remember the pain of previous experiences? How can we release those emotions without denying what we have been through?
Dear Ones, we invite you to understand that your past is a chapter in your story, not the entirety of who you are. You have walked through experiences that have shaped your understanding, strengthened your compassion, and revealed depths of courage you may never have known existed. Yet, beloveds, you are not required to revisit the pain in order to honor the lessons. When an old memory arises, do not immediately push it away or judge yourself for remembering. Instead, greet it with gentleness. Ask what part of you is seeking acknowledgment, reassurance, or love.
There is no need to fight the memory. There is no need to force an emotion to disappear. Allow yourself to feel what is present while remembering that you are here, in this moment, and not in the moment that has already passed. Your body is a precious companion on this earthly journey. Treat it with tenderness. Listen when it asks for rest. Seek the care and support it needs. Do not confuse patience with weakness or temporary limitations with permanent defeat. And remember, healing is not a competition. There is no heavenly stopwatch measuring how quickly you recover from a wound, whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual. Some experiences require time. Some require the loving assistance of others. Some invite you to discover a new way of moving through the world. None of these diminish your light.
We ask you to release the belief that moving forward requires you to forget. You can remember and still be free. You can acknowledge what happened without allowing it to determine what happens next. Imagine placing your past experiences into a beautiful book. Each page contains a part of your journey. Some pages are filled with joy, others with tears. You do not need to tear out the difficult pages. Simply understand that you are the one holding the pen today. The next page is waiting. Write it with love instead of fear, with possibility instead of limitation, and with trust instead of anticipation of pain. You are not beginning again as the person you once were. You are moving forward with all the wisdom you have gathered along the way. And we are walking beside you, one beautiful step at a time.
Angels Whisper: Dear Ones, the past may have shaped your journey, but it does not have to determine your destination. Honor what you have experienced, embrace the wisdom it has given you, and gently release what no longer serves your highest good. Healing is not about forgetting yesterday. It is about allowing yourself to fully live today. Take the next step with faith, even if it is a small one. Heaven celebrates every step forward.
Today's Reflection: What memory, experience, or old belief have you been carrying that may be making your journey heavier than it needs to be?
Take a quiet moment today and ask yourself, “Am I responding to what is happening right now, or am I responding to something that happened long ago?”
Perhaps there is an emotion asking to be acknowledged, a wound needing compassion, or an old story ready for a new ending. You don't have to figure it all out today. Just begin with kindness toward yourself. And remember: You cannot change the road you have traveled, but you can choose how you travel the road ahead.
Teri Angel is a Joy Guide, Happiness Coach, energy healer, best-selling author, spiritual teacher, mentor, and inspirational speaker devoted to awakening peace within the human heart. As an International Peace Ambassador and founder of the nonprofit Angelspeakers Inc., Teri creates transformative workshops, sacred gatherings, and global initiatives that honor environmental stewardship, animal advocacy, peace consciousness, and the integration of ancient wisdom teachings into modern life.
Through her worldwide movement, Peas For Peace, Teri invites humanity to remember our divine interconnectedness—strengthening awareness of our oneness and inspiring unity through compassion, love, joy, and intentional action. During the Peace On Earth Tour, she was honored with the sacred name “She Who Blesses the Sacred Land,” a title she carries with humility and heartfelt grace as she continues blessing lands and waters around the world.
Learn more at:
To donate to the Peace On Earth Tour, click this link: Donate
To book a private session with Teri, visit https://angelspeakers.com
Comments