Depression comes from living in the past Anxiety comes from living in the future Peace comes from living in the present

I constantly have regret cringe. I find myself thinking about and reliving the really bad, hurtful things I’ve said or done. Especially past relationships. I keep telling myself that it’s in the past, that they are life lessons and that I can do better.

I went back to school to finish my degree at 40+yrs old thanks to this man!

I`m tormented by my past . Every negative experience in my life is rerun like a film over and over .

This is me. Someone is actually, finally talking to me. I’m not ashamed that hearing him say exactly what I’m going through made me choke up. My memories go all the way back to high school. I am bipolar and I will catch myself cringing thinking of all the bad things that have happened to me. The good far outweigh the bad but are all that seem to be popping in my head.

At 40+, I finally fulfilled my dream of finishing my degree! Huge thanks to this man.

I regret not studying, I regret mingling with the wrong people, I regret not appreciating someone who loved me, I regret being stupid, I regret being a loser, I regret living my young teenage years with no sense of self awareness

One thing that helps is to change your regret into gratitude- I have a hard time forgiving myself and relive the “what if” and “if only” scenarios but when I look at my past with more compassion love and understanding it turns into some forgiveness and love and mercy - it helps me to see that even though I can’t go back and change that choice that I can be grateful for the lessons that it’s helped me to learn and the person it’s shaping me into.

This man has helped me through more in my life then I think he can even imagine.

One thing about growing up in the 90’s was you didn’t have the ability to search your phone and find people who were having similar problems. Here people give advice and maybe get a different perspective. I think that’s good for young people today. And everyone else too.

I really love the comments and after reading most of the comments tears came through my eyes. I feel I'm not only the one who has suffered from unpleasant memories of the past but also now learning from the past and healing the past. Thank you so much Jordan Peterson and may God bless you and all those wounded souls. Great respect and love to You from India.

What if you desperately miss your past because it was a lot better than the present? I get stuck in the depression of how much fun life was 20 years ago and I can’t get past it.

The Elephant Rope (Belief) A gentleman was walking through an elephant camp, and he spotted that the elephants weren’t being kept in cages or held by the use of chains. All that was holding them back from escaping the camp, was a small piece of rope tied to one of their legs. As the man gazed upon the elephants, he was completely confused as to why the elephants didn’t just use their strength to break the rope and escape the camp. They could easily have done so, but instead, they didn’t try to at all. Curious and wanting to know the answer, he asked a trainer nearby why the elephants were just standing there and never tried to escape. The trainer replied: “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The prison that holds you captive. Has no walls.

“Sometimes it’s better to learn than insist on being right because it’s better for the future.” What an amazing comment.!!!!! I am healed just by listening to this video over something that’s been bothering me for three months, God Bless You JP.

The art of grieving what couldnt be, is keeping me stuck in the past. It is all a matter of accepting not having what i wanted and having it my way. Feeling hurt, anger, frustration,, sadness,, regret.

I'm 50. I find myself dwelling, thinking hard about things, and reliving the darkest parts of my life. More and more, I find myself thinking of these bad times. It bothers me. I tell myself I'm living in the now and to stop obsessing over things that can't be changed. Half an hour later, I unconsciously find my self in the past again. I go as far back as childhood. Frustrating

I wish he was my therapist

Just turned 23 and honestly I've been really struggling with coming to terms with a lot of things, one of those being too attached to memories and regrets of things I didn't do but should have done. This video has helped me some.

My problem is living in the past with all the good times,ppl that are no longer here etc………as it makes me smile it also makes me cry

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” -Eckhart Tolle

Many painful life experiences are the direct result of being abused in several ways, bullied, cheated, and so on from OTHER people. People are the problem. Choose your friends and acquaintances carefully. Discard those who would be mean spirited…and remember, don’t be too nice…

I’m definitely stuck in the past and got a lot of anxiety. The worst nightmare I can remember having was: Teachers from my past stole all my stuff and then tried to kill me. When asking others for help they rolled their eyes and saying “they’re teachers they don’t try to kill you”. No one was on my side. I also remember having dreams where I would be crying in the dream and I wake up crying with tears on my face.

I love Dr. Peterson. He just enlightened me more in a 5-minute clip than decades of therapy and psychiatry combined.

One thing that I've always found admirable is Peterson's breadth of vocabulary and the way he articulates concepts. It always clicks perfectly

I’m stuck in high school where I used to feel anxious daily since most of my classmates disliked me at that time. I was threatened all the time that I will be attacked at any second and won’t be able to defend myself+ I was already abused as a child so I didn’t feel safe most of the time and didn’t learn methods of how to defend myself. I lived in this situation for months until I graduated. This happened five years ago and I’m still stuck there. However, I know I’m stronger now. I survived this sh*t without anyone knowing about it even. For anyone going through hard time, you are capable of handling it. Trust me!

I really like him. He's like a father that cares about all of us.

I was stuck in an abusive family, so depressed I could barely get out of bed, all through my formative years. Finally got away at 28, looking 40.

It’s been years and i can never let go of the past. I hate myself for all of my past, it haunts me there isn’t one day where it hasn’t crossed my mind at least once since. How can you move on from events that are awful? Awful things you’ve done ? Hurt people who didn’t deserve it? I care more and more everyday as if that’s humanly possible. Thing is i can’t be sure i’m willing to live with it forever and i haven’t been able to before leading to awful moments. It’s hard.

Jordan Peterson's lectures helped me become a better adult. His advice is something I needed throughout my life. Its a shame I couldn't get this advice from home but having it now helps me become a better person.

If you are having trouble letting go of the past, one thing that may help is leaving town. A new area helps when you want to be a new person. Also, remember that every moment you spend on regret or any negative thinking about the past, is letting that past win. It's good to analyze your past, but any minute spent on regret is a minute wasted

My brother’s suicide and the following months in early 2022. Can’t let it go. My sense of my world being safe was shattered.

This clip nearly made me commit suicide, than it saved me only a few days ago. I have had childhood trauma since my mother died when I was 7yrs old. My father was physically abusive, is still an alcoholic and daily marijuana smoker. My step mother met my father 12 months post my mothers passing and she brought trauma into our lives. During this time my elder sister died on drugs. I joined the army as soon as I could and served in two combat tours (Iraq). I was diagnosed with PTSD 10yrs ago, dealt and let go of everything, or so i thought. I attracted an abusive relationship thinking that I could be the one to save this person based on my lived-experience. I was wrong. I have been so messed up. My step mother passed away last week and I stayed with my father to help him. My trauma came back worse than ever. 3 days ago, I woke up, and i was in a rage. It was unbearable. The issue was, i couldn't change the traumatic events. So, I wanted to die. I watched this video and the advice was horrible, I have done it all, it sounds nice but it doesn't heal anything. For years I have been disassociated, riddled with anxiety, but did everything to manage it (exercise, meditation, talk therapy). For at least 10yrs I couldn't tell you days, dates, where events took place, and i am always preparing for danger. I quit drinking this year and i have felt every ounce of pain. Jordan did mention however that we deal with these black spots, and they're horrible, that's what ive been living with. This avoidance of truth and further torture because i didn't think I could handle it. So not only did I revisit it, I called my Dad and I told him I wanted to die. I told him everything that he had done to me, I cried for 2.5hrs, and to my surprise, he cried with me, he apologised for everything, and the blank spots... are now gone. Years of torture has left me, and my body, my face, my chest, it's all lighter. I can't explain it. I am however, alive. So, thank you.

When I think of something negative from the past I try to ask myself “ok but what did I learn?” sooner than later and it seems to stop the snowball in it’s tracks.

Im 20 and two years ago I was a victim of sexual violences. As if it wasn’t traumatic and awful enough, my ex (boyfriend who broke up with me and wanted to stay friends) literally humiliated me when he learned about it. He made me feel as a « slutty girl who looked for it and who’s rushing into life ». Honestly his reaction and jealousy made me feel the worst I’ve ever felt in my whole life. I’ve never been this hurt in my life. After that he just left me as if nothing happened. I then suffered from ptsd flashbacks, insomnia, extreme vigilance, fear all the time to be raped again, fear of men, lost of self confidence, cries all the time (like really there’s wasn’t a day without me crying), suicidal thoughts, feeling of guilt and feeling dirty, was part of my daily life. It was unbearable. I had to deal with my trauma + the victim blaming, betrayal, of someone I really really trusted and love. That was really hard in the beginning. I’ve been to a therapist for more than a year. I did a lot of EMDR (a psychotherapy method to help you deal with trauma) sessions and psychotherapy where I talk and listen to my therapist’s advice. That’s what saved me. Also my faith and my will to survive all this. I was 18/19 at the time, and now, I just tuned 20. Even if I’ve realised a lot of improvements in my mental health and life. I am still a little stuck in the past. I still feel anger and sadness whenever I think about it. It ruins some of my days, my energy and everything. My ex apologised to me after that, but with all the good will I have, I can’t forgive him. I can’t forget and I know I never will. But I wanna forgive him, for me first. I can’t help but hate all the men who hurted me. My heart is full of anger, sadness and pain, a feeling of injustice, regret on all my bad choices,…. I live too much in the past. I have an amazing family, amazing friends and an amazing new boyfriend. But I can’t even fully live happily with my mind who’s always running in the past and reviving those feelings. That’s why I was looking for help to improve myself even more and to be stronger. I wanna Keane how to be active and survivor and not « victim ». It’s hard but I know I will. This video actually helped me A LOT ❤ thank you very much. And I wish everybody who’s struggling to learn how to move on and live a happy life.

I live in the past, which is why I clicked the video, but it’s not the bad memories, it’s the good ones that I’m addicted to. Closest thing to a time machine I have is the music I listened to at that time. So I listen to it close my eyes and imagine myself in that scenario and it works but it fades each time to where I’d do anything to feel it for the first time again. I’m addicted to nostalgia and have been for years.

I’m stuck in middle school, 2005-9 and 2014. Constant repetition thoughts of these three life periods. Full of regret and embarrassment.

What I find truly incredible about this man is that he probably has no idea how many people he has helped. He's helped people he has never even met. The world needs more like him.

Jordan Peterson is a gift from God. I'll never get tired of listening to his wisdom.

This man has helped me through life in ways I think is impossible for someone to be able to ever help me.

I have PTSD and this makes so much sense!! I've been doing this over and over.

I find myself stuck in multiple points in time. Not just cringey moments from my junior years, but, to the point where I feel like it’s still my first day of high school. Current day, I’m 25, I have a great job, I’m married and I’m about to become a dad in 4 months, so on paper, I’m doing okay, but I still feel stuck at 2 or 3 different ages in my past. I remember everything. I remember everyone. I can’t mature. I can’t self control. I am so sure that people only remember me and look at me in a negative way. Constant cringe.

I did and said alot of stupid crap and It still haunts me today. I wish i could go back and change things. I find that cold plunges sets me to the present moment but then after a few days it creeps up on me again.

I'm stuck in happy times of the past. It's so potent and I know it's illogical. Everyone has moved on. The entire massive group of friends I had has moved on, and yet I'm stuck longing for us all to be together again.

Someone once said that regret is an appalling waste of energy... they were right.

The past is gone. Things will never be the same again. The key is how do you interpret that. Do you long for the past and end up losing your present? Or do you accept it and recognize that leaves an incredible amount of potential for your present and thus your future

I had a very traumatized upbringing with 8 other siblings. We suffered so much together. I have been on a path of healing and freedom from all of that pain and trauma. Rebuilding my thought process and reaction to life around. For most of my life, I always felt like I had to find something/place?? Seeking to fill something in me. Never apart of the people or church family around me. FINALLY understand that was past emotion I was dealing with. To allow myself to be in the right now. Bury all of them that hurt me. And it is safe in this place NOW!!! LOVE THIS SO MUCH. People like me need this kinda chats!!! Thank you.

I love this man. I suffered so much in the past & Jordan has helped me so much. His bk 12 rules is truly a good read

Back in 2016 I made the decision to choose my family over my destructive alcoholism. I’ve been sober for 5 years now & I still carry the burden of regret from the past when I pushed my family members away. I hate myself for things I have said & done in the past & even though things were good for years my wife came out & said that for the longest time she has struggled to forgive me for what I put her through. I told her countless times that I am sorry & ashamed of myself for all the hurt & pain I put her through. People struggling with any kind of addiction pleas get help, don’t let it get bad like I did. Yes she was far from perfect & hurt me as well but you don’t want to be the one feeling ashamed & full of regret.

Ah. I'm definitely stuck in the past, a past of some truly amazing childhood experiences, and I find myself spending a lot of time and resources trying to recreate them in whatever manner possible.

I can't express enough how this video helps me deal with trauma in a way I never did before. I struggled early as an adolescent with being direspected and taken advantage of (whilst being too kind for my own good). This helps me see that I need to know why my bad experiences happened and how, today (10 years later), I can deal with these much more efficiently and in a tremendously better way than before.

I just keep reminiscing about my past. I feel bad that things changed and I just wanna go back to that moment.

This man is a national treasure.

Sometimes your past is all you have left

JP's advice helped me become a healthier person and get the career I wanted. When the ways I distracted myself from dealing with my past became more destructive and distressing than sorting it out, I began sorting it out and was ready to hear JP and take him seriously.

He speaks the damn truth. Us at the societal bottom are so much more susceptible to negative emotions and anxiety. We have to grow through so much more adversity to survive it. We’re constantly guilt tripped for it- that it’s “your problem, not societies” confidence and power/influence are an effortless formula. Why the rich get richer and the poor become Ill.

The past is done and gone,no point in holding grudges for something that has happened,you can't turn the clock back.

This is wonderful. Suffered from PTSD for years. Although I did a lot of work to reconcile my memeories, it was this one saying I heard from my therapist "It doesn't have to be true anymore"... and that thought has really allowed me to stay in control.

As a person who struggles with ptsd, depression, and high functioning anxiety thank u. U have no idea how much my life has changed. But I’m not unique. That’s why other ppl are listening to this in the same way i am. So, thank you

It's September 2022 and im stuck in 2019-2020. Been like this for months and this thing makes me goes from happy to sad real quick

I used to live in the past. The only way I was able to move forward was to be at peace with my past, forgive all and let go. And the only way to do that, was to confront my past and address it no matter how much it hurt or how uncomfortable it made me feel. Accept what happened, feel the emotions and let it all go! And to help me stay in the present and look forward to the future is I practice self love and self care. I try to learn something new everyday and try better myself everyday by working out, going for a walk, decluttering the house, reading a book, taking time to breathe and enjoy my surroundings and count my blessings 💜💜💜

I seem to be stuck on the year 2019 where a lot of things happened. Both good and bad. I always blame myself because things aren’t the way they used to be. Whenever I get a ‘nostalgic’ feeling of 2019, they make me sad. I don’t know how to move on from it. I feel like I ruined things throughout the years

This video was truly inspiring! The quotes and messages shared here are so powerful and have given me a lot to think about. Thank you for sharing such a positive message with the world. I'll definitely be coming back to this video for a dose of motivation whenever I need it. Keep up the great work!

I'm obsessed with the past cuz I miss it. Even though there was messed up stuff, the good outweighed the bad

Actually, I have a different point of view of this now. I was dealing with panic attacks and depression until I heard a saying "The past is just a thought in the present moment". And I got curios and noticed that the past is actually over, its done. There is always just this present moment, you can't be anywhere else. The only thing you are exeperiencing is a thought in the present moment which creates the past for you, memories are often very fluid. So it is not the past that gives you thought now. It is you that creating that experience again via thought in the PRESENT MOMENT. The same way goes with the future. It is a FACT that the future doesn't exist, that can all agree with. The future has a tendency to NEVER show up. Lets say for example if I worry for tomorrow. It is not tomorrow or the week, month or year that gives me anxiety or worry. It is my own thinking in the present moment that gives me those. Thought creates feeling, always. not feeling creating thought. We are the thinker that creates our own reality. But it is just thoughts, nothing else. Thoughts are not tangible, there are more like fluffy clouds or fluid. So... If we realize that there is only the present moment, the past is over and the future will never show up miracles can happen to your well-being.

Me: Thinking all day about things from 2.5 to 10 years ago, still trying to make sense of my life. KZfaq: Here, have this.

I’ve lost friends, relationships, jobs, opportunities . … due to anger and low self-worth. I live with regrets .. but life is a nine-inning game. As long as you’re breathing there is a chance to smile and experience better times ahead.

I’m always struggling with my past, I was a terrible person ik im a better person now but as I try to grow I feel like my past is still there haunting me. I’m so sorry to the people I’ve hurt.

My life stopped March 30, 1992. My mother died in my arms. I'm a walking shell. I was 35. I'm 65 now and dead inside.

All my friends are stuck onto the past and keep bringing up old stuff that’s irrelevant and negative.

I'm here all nostalgic for a time that doesn't suck as much as today.

These insights and the potential discussion to follow, is an art-I had a professor like this in undergrad psych. He’s talking about real life issues, one’s that are applicable and interesting to learn about. This is the reason I loved college and pursued a psychology degree.

I lived for so many years in a negative enviroment, with toxic people, that make my life impossible, doing the worst things.. Now I know that I have just to stay focus in what I like and in what is positive for me.. And not let me influence by the others negative things..

a part of me is stuck in 2007... hope to overcome this one day

I'm on my own path of forging myself right now to let go of the past it's the hardest thing I've done in my life but just saying that takes the edge off my anxiety, depression ain't shit but overthinking, paranoia and extreme anxiety are what's destroying me

Dr.Peterson is such a gift to society. He has helped so many people, including myself. Thank you for posting ❤

I like how Peterson gives explanations and mental exercises to resolve the past.

I just want to not feel this way anymore Dr Peterson 😥😞 I’m so tired of it and it’s physically draining I’m grateful for you and all you do thank you 🙏

Such a rollercoaster dealing with the past. Forgive them, forgive yourself. Make Smart choices; & the next time Life presents a "test" it's okay to ask questions, whenever you are unsure of the direction your going.❤

So thankful to have come across Mr Peterson last year. Him and Dr Gabor mate, have really helped me realize things I needed to work on.

Did he ever suggest how to fix being stuck in the past? I tuned out about a third of the way in. He has so much to offer. If only he's organize his thoughts and get to the point.

I was a 70s kid, & WE ARE stuck in the past, because the 70s were possibly the greatest time in American history to be young.

What the fuck did I just watch? What a intelligent human being, the way he is explaining things is so logical and intelligent. He is really near too communicate exactly what he is trying too say. Or at least more near than me and you.

DR. JORDAN PETERSON HAS AN EXTREMELY IN- DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMAN PSYCHE

I have finally let go of my bad past and made peace with it i have forgiven...and now i am concentrating on my future and mysself working on mysself and being happy🙏🏻

What a gentleman !!! I admire him a lot. The way he walks, talks, answers, debate, his gestures, his dressing sense are all sterling.

I have a lot of regrets during my past relationship. It's been 5 months and I still haven't forgot or moved on. Having a good memory is nice ,but now it feels like a curse. I want the thoughts to stop.

That is so accurate I always go crazy when something disrupts my plan Or an obstacle Appears from nowhere, Thanks for the explanation makes a lot of sense

I'm still stuck in the 80s and 90s and it sucks sometimes because I feel that thing ware better and more interesting in the past than today and that hurts sometimes.

Absolutely love this man and his incredible spirit!

Some times is amazing when you see people like a farmer in a small town that can easy see life in a peaceful way and then you get to a big city and see lots of people confused .

This speech is relatable to me ! i guess that the past is always memorable ( bad or good ) 😐 but whoever is reading my comment remember to focus on the now and the future more than anything that happened that you should leave behind 🙏

It’s 2022 and I’m still stuck in 2007, the 2000s we’re the best years of my life

My mum is an angry and bitter person who lives in the past and its affecting her mental health,she doesn't want to mix with others and as I'm a spiritual person I try to reassure that the past is gone and forgotten.

I’m constantly stuck in the past but not the traumatic times more like the good times . I have constant dreams back in elementary school &’ up when life was fun and okay. certain friends were still alive, I was only a kid .. everything was brighter and life was worth living . Now it’s very dark depressing place . I miss being a kid and I’m only 20..

A difficult up bringing can affect one so much, sometimes one can never fully move on!

Listening to him talk is therapeutic.

I'm stuck in 2016. Can't get past it

I have watched a great amount of JBP content in the last years. For some reason it stands out! Thanks a lot for putting up this content!

Pure gold. This man has been there, done that