Use your experience as a tool

13/08/2025 20 min Episodio 4
Use your experience as a tool

Listen "Use your experience as a tool"

Episode Synopsis

Navigating both your internal and external environments can be tricky. Especially when you weigh in the accumulation of experiences we have to sort through. Today, we will discuss how to empower yourself with the learning and growth that only comes from past experience. The goal of this episode is to inspire you to see your past as a tool, not something you should shy away from. This episode is all about trusting your path and taking the time to reflect, accept, and love yourself through all your phases and find appreciation for where you have come from and where you are going!
 
EPISODE NOTES
The emotions and memories from the past tend to stay with a person as time moves forward. Past experiences influence your self-esteem, perception, emotional responses, and interactions in the present. When you try to brush off your past experiences and wounds, you are neglecting reflection and opportunity for healing and growth.  
 
The power of experience: Experience provides real life proof of the ability to navigate situations. Experience comes with heaps of learning, application and trial and error. Somethings can only be learned from experience. Empower yourself with the tools and lessons that your past has taught you that you are now able to apply in the present. New knowledge, growth, and love is available to you because of what you have experienced in your past.  

Past experiences provide insight on ways you have acted and reacted in the past and whether or not they were a proper representation on how you want to show up in your life. Through honest reflection, you can shift these past tendencies and traits to help you show up more intentionally in the present. 


 If you have struggled to navigate certain situations in the past, do not beat yourself up about it. You now have the insight on how to act differently when similar situations arise!


 If you continue to face similar negative and conflicting situations in your life, then you may not be learning the lesson that you are meant to learn. You must reflect on what you may be missing or brushing over.  


Past experiences also offer insight on the ways that you feel love and fulfillment and the ways that you feel hurt and unfulfilled. With hindsight from your past, you can be intentional with what energy, people, and situations you choose to focus on in the present. 

I believe that the experiences in my life happen for me, not to me. This mind shift brings the power back to you. It also invites guidance and support to help you navigate your life. Little signs and synchronicities will start to cross your path; A song, a quote, a person, hope. These things do not come to you by accident. You are experiencing this for a reason. What are you meant to learn? What change is your life showing you? What things have you outgrown in your life? What pathways are being repaved? 
 
You can repave pathways of your old beliefs, actions, and feelings and move forward with new insight and strength by first acknowledging the past belief or cause and effect and shift it into a more positive truthful application.  I want you to physically imagine yourself repaving old pathways in your mind. Exhale and let go of your past beliefs, limiting thoughts, and negativity. 
 
Repression: A psychological defense mechanism that involves the unconscious blocking of distressing or traumatic memories, thoughts, or desires from conscious awareness to protect oneself from emotional pain. These memories, while inaccessible to conscious recall, can still influence behavior and emotions.   
 
Reflection is a powerful process that requires vulnerability with yourself. Honesty with yourself helps you to identify the patterns, false assumptions, and wounds that you hold from your past. It may be helpful to intentionally set time aside to sit with yourself and reflect in a safe and quiet environment. 
Journaling and therapeutic support can also provide assistance in reflection. They help to set a pace for processing past and present experiences in a way that is less overwhelming. Journaling works by organizing the thoughts is a visual way that can be referred back to. When we write, we can more easily follow a train of thought and communicate our thoughts more clearly and accurately. There is something so powerful about writing and speaking about your thoughts, opinions and experiences rather than just thinking about them. It offers a physical release, like a weight coming off of your shoulders. Writing and speaking also gives you the chance to fact check yourself and ask “do I actually believe this?” “Is this a priority to me?” “Am I placing blame on others?” etc.