Life Hacking: How to Think About the Past

June 22, 2010 · 6 comments

[Warning: this video is a bit "out there."  At the least, it will make you think.  At best, it will reconstruct how you think about your past.]

The past is a tricky thing to manage.  Over indulging in the past can cause one to lose focus on the present.  Yet forgetting the past altogether makes us feel hollow, anonymous, and unknown.  Where is the balance?  This video explains my solution.  My simple and very functional “mental framework”.

Let’s get to it.

Everyone has a past. Whether good or bad, how we think about our past effects us deeply.  For me, there always seemed to be a difficult balance between remembering and forgetting.  A balance between cherishing and moving forward in the present.

Recently I thought of a new way to imagine the past – and it works for me.  It makes me happy.  It simultaneously fills me up, energizes me, and centers my mind.  This video is my attempt to share this mental framework with you.

Thanks for visiting my blog!  My favorite part of blogging is hearing what you have to say – so if you feel inclined, take 5 seconds to let me know what you think of this post.

Also, thanks for all of the Facebook “likes” on my last video post.  It encourages me to keep posting!

If you’re new to my blog, you might want to read about my “famous” (term used very loosely here haha) sleep experiment – where I slept for 20 minutes every 4 hours around the clock for two weeks.  it. was. insane.

  • Cecilia T

    Did Lost inspire any of these ideas? =P Jk though good vid

  • Anthony

    Hey Drew! A part of me feels that we should let go of the past and live in the present. But i feel that the positive memories of the past, is the motivation in the present to know that feeling of accomplishment,and success! I feel unfortunately a lot of us, get stuck in past events, good or bad? We are afraid to evolve and change,we give our power to that event,or fear? I think we can encompass, the past, present, and future all in one moment. When you love and value yourself,and focus on creating successful,positive,loving, memories in the present!

  • http://drewskwarcan.com Drew

    @Cecilia: You’re not the first person who asked me if my ideas were inspired by Lost! Actually the only bit of Lost I saw was the finale – but maybe I need to go back and watch someday? I guess there are some similar concepts on the show?

    @Anthony: You’re right: getting “stuck in the past” can happen – especially for me during lower levels of consciousness (tired, stressed, or sad). Also I agree with “When you love and value yourself,and focus on creating successful, positive, loving memories in the present!”

  • Anthony

    Thanks Drew! I appreciate, the reflective aspects, of your blog! And how most of us, do not not take the time to ponder our lives, and experience, on the planet. Thanks Drew, you inspire me to do and see things differently.

  • Megan

    (But does it make you happy? I wasn’t clear on that… ha)

    Around the 30 second mark I was waiting for the car crash… Mobile vlogging in is a dangerous habit!!

    I think this idea is a little crazy but at least you gave us warning :) Maybe when you don’t answer my texts right away you are busy living in your past?? This post further solidifies your status in our house as ‘crazy Uncle Drew’…

    Agghhh neeeeeeed sleep. Delete this comment if you see fit :) :)

  • Doug

    Drew, interesting thoughts. There was a recent discussion on NPR that a couple of your comments reminded me of….your use of the past being alive in you. The NPR discussion centered on when does death occur in an individual. One person commented that death only occurs when the last person who remembers you dies. Therefore the memories of you keep you alive…. I would find it and send a link, but the memory of it fades from my mind. :)

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