Our lives are often defined by our pasts. We have to 'look back to move forward.' But what is it about our past that sets us up for the future. How can we grow and learn from our past? Over the last few years I have had the words 'look back to move forward' on my mind. For a long time I had no idea what that meant or why it was important. As I learned more from my past, I found that it taught me a lot about the future that I was creating. As we prepare for the new year, looking back is especially important. It a time to celebrate the victories, learn from the failures, and prepare for what is coming in the future.  It's a great time to setup a battle plan for where we are going next. I often find that quotes inspire me so I began to look for quotes about the past and the future. Here were a few that stuck out to me...“The past is never where you think you left it.” ― Katherine Anne Porter“The past beats inside me like a second heart.” ― John Banville“We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it.” ― Rick Warren“Study the past if you would define the future.” ― Confucius“The past was always there, lived inside of you, and it helped to make you who you were. But it had to be placed in perspective. The past could not dominate the future.” ― Barbara Taylor BradfordSo it's great to look back to move forward but how do we do that? Why do we look back. Your history defines your current state. Presupposition.  Learn from your failuresEncourage faith for the futureShow your strengths and weaknessesA building block for your futureShows who is in your cornerAllows us to find healingOver the next few weeks I want to encourage you to look back and begin the journey to create a new future. Today is the perfect time to start that journey.Today's episode is sponsored by OpportunityInChina.com and Flocksy