How to forget the past?

Sometimes, events that happen in our life make us feel tired, burdened, or regretful. We spend too much time thinking about a horrible deed we've committed, even though we can no longer change it. So how do we move on from a bad experience?

Steps:

1. Accept that it already happened. It's not the easiest thing to do, but it will help you get on your way. The past is a part of your life now, but it is not the most important part. Accept the fact that it can no longer be changed in anyway.

2. Change your cognition to not feel as bad about what happened, and decrease anxiety that triggers going back to the past; for example, if you were embarrassed, tell yourself don't worry, everyone gets embarrassed; various relaxation methods will decrease anxiety which can trigger bad memories.

3. Live in the present. This one is kind of hard, as well, since the present is easy to take for granted. Know that by constantly using your present time wisely, you are constantly making a better past for yourself.

4. Learn from it. Something good always comes out of anything, even if it is a very bad experience. Find the lesson involved and try not to make the same mistake twice.

5. Forgive. Yourself or the ones that have hurt you. Cut some slack to others and yourself. Nobody asks to be given a bad memory. People are not perfect. Everyone is prone to make mistakes. That's how people are. And the only way to really move on from a bad experience is to forgive the people involved.

6. If all of the above don't help, then maybe try some journal-ing in a diary, or journal. But be specific about what's bothering you.

7. Just forgive them for what ever they have done and don't ever be sad, they are too human and thus make mistakes just look for hopes because ""fear can hold you as a prisoner and hope can set you free"""