9 : Looking Back... Is Embarrassing Today

If you feel embarrassed by your past, It means you’ve evolved. The only thing worse than being embarrassed by your past self is being exactly the same person you were a decade ago. Embrace the cringe. It’s the sound of you getting better.

If you can look back at who you were a few years ago without cringing, you might not be growing. We’ve all been there: a "memory" pops up on your phone, or you find an old journal entry, and your first instinct is to bury your head in your hands. 9 : Looking Back... Is Embarrassing

Instead of running from the cringe, try leaning into these three perspectives: If you feel embarrassed by your past, It

Everything—from relationships to careers—has a learning curve. You had to be the "embarrassing beginner" to become the "composed expert" [2, 3]. It’s the sound of you getting better

Most of us view our past mistakes as permanent stains on our character. We think, "How could I have been so clueless?" The reality is that you were doing the best you could with the tools and information you had at the time [3]. You didn't know then what you know now—and that’s okay. How to Reframe the Embarrassment

Use that awkward memory as a yardstick. Measure the distance between who you were then and who you are now. That gap is your growth.

Humor is the best way to neutralize shame. If you can laugh at your old self, you’ve officially taken the power back from the memory. The Takeaway