The greatest lesson I learned is to stop ruminating. I did not even realize that I frequently ruminate until one day, a close friend said, “Stop thinking about the past. It’s not going to change.”

A little reflection is good because you learn from your past mistakes but if you cannot stop, then it becomes a hassle. It stops you from moving forward. Instead of wasting time to become mentally stressed and worried, use the time to look towards the future. In order to be successful in life, it is essential to look forwards, not backwards. Get rid of those negative thoughts – “I should have done this” or “What would have happened if I did this instead.” No matter how many times you replay the situation, you cannot change the past so just move on. Life is not a smooth path. There are always going to be obstacles in your way but it is up to you to decide how to continue along that path.