Compounding Daily
Do you feel stuck? Uninspired? Stagnant? The Compounding Daily podcast hosted by Miguel Sanchez, aims to spark curiosity and drive. Each episode gives you deep insights on how to cultivate healthy habits, practice discipline, change your perspective of life, and restructure your mindset in a way that promotes small changes in your daily life that will compound to help you earn that 1% needed everyday to reach your goals, whether they be physical, mental, or both.
Instagram:@compoundingdailypodcast
Compounding Daily
EP131- Past As Teacher, Future As Promise
Lets us know your thoughts thru TEXT!
Time is our most precious resource, yet many waste it by living in the wrong dimension. Some stay stuck in the past, clinging to “the good old days” or using history to excuse their limits. Others get lost in the future, paralyzed by what-ifs and fears.
The truth is simple: only those fully present are truly living. Your past shaped you, but it doesn’t define you—unless you let it. No matter how hard it was, it didn’t defeat you. You’re still here. Still breathing. Still capable of growth.
Every moment is a chance to choose differently, to rewrite your story, to change your direction. Your history explains where you’ve been, not where you’re going.
Live with intention now, and you create your future—one choice at a time. Replace “What if everything goes wrong?” with “What if everything goes right?”
Your story isn’t over. Opportunities are already forming for you, waiting for you to claim them. Use your past as fuel, not an excuse. One decision can change everything. Choose wisely.
Thank You for listening ! follow us on Instagram.
@compoundingdailypodcast
Miguel:@m_sanchezvillafane
Email: Compoundingdailypodcast@gmail.com
Hello, hello and welcome back everybody to Compounding Daily. I'm your host, miguel Sanchez. Welcome to another episode. I sit here by myself. Once again, it'll be a quick, short episode. I can't believe it, but it is episode 131.
Speaker 1:I'm immensely grateful to be here, immensely grateful for you, the listener. This is something that I do, not because I get anything physical out of it, right, but because I've been looking for purpose most of my life and I've arrived at the destination that my purpose is meant to be. I must live my life to learn the lessons and, in me, going through the experiences, I get, to share with you what I go through in hopes that my life provides you with some form of value, and it doesn't always have to be with something that you have to do. A lot of the things that I speak about are things that I wouldn't do again and in hopes of you listening. You don't do at all. So I know that it's a lot of weight on my shoulders that I've placed there, because now I beat myself up as to whether I'm providing value or not. But understand something it's valuable to me because the things that I'm speaking about are my life. I'm not sitting here reading off of a script. I'm not here making scenarios up. I'm here telling you what I'm going through, how I'm going through it, what I learned from it, what I'm going through how I'm going through it, what I learned from it, what I gained from it, what I lost from it, what I would do differently, etc. Etc. Etc. You get the point, but I always start every episode always expressing gratitude, because I know that you, as an individual, don't have to be here, you don't have to listen to this, and yet you're setting time aside to you know, hopefully gain some value. And, with that being said, let's get better together.
Speaker 1:Today's episode is going to be a little tongue twister for me, and I always say that about the things that I know I have a lot to say about. I just don't know in which order I'm going to say it, so excuse me if I'm going back and forth, but the message will be painted across fairly quickly. So I don't think this is going to be an episode that I have to go significantly in depth, and it's an episode about the past. It's an episode about what I consider energy wasters, and today's episode is strictly about realizing that the past is meant to serve you. The past is your friend. The past is meant to teach you lessons. The past is meant to tell your story. The past is not meant for you to permanently make a residential household in, at least in your mind. And I'll explain. And this is what I meant by the tongue twisting side of things. Right?
Speaker 1:How many people do you know that only talk about the past, the good old days, how things used to be? Every time I've come across one of those people, they're never talking about the past in a uplifting sort of way, as in their present moment they're becoming even better than they were. They always talk about the past as if the best has already passed them. They speak about the past as if the good old days are over, they're done, and their current moment, in their present moment, it's no longer good. And for most of my life I didn't really have an issue with, you know, reminiscing on my past and thinking to myself like, wow, like how great things used to be. Or wow, look at who I used to be and look at who I am now. You know I've never had that issue, but it's because my experience with my past has always been one of I'm glad I'm not there anymore, you know and I don't mean that in a negative way I'm very grateful for my past, but I've worked on myself enough to know that I find most pleasure and fulfillment not in the past, not in the possible future, but instead in the present. And I don't want to get ahead of myself, but that is why the past has never affected me like that.
Speaker 1:But look how easy it is to go down that slope of sitting in the present moment, with where you are and what you have, looking at everything that you thought you would have by now, realizing that you don't have it. So now, in your present moment, you're creating a scene of depression, a scene of not good enough, a scene of maybe I deserve more right. And in that you might start thinking about the past and you might start thinking about the people who used to be a lot in your life. You might start thinking about the way that you used to look. Maybe you've let yourself go and now you're a little bit overweight. Maybe you had a career change and that you thought was going to be life-changing and instead you miss your old career.
Speaker 1:What I'm trying to get at is it's so easy, so easy to exaggerate the past and make it feel as if the past were your best days, and I came across a quote that I'll never, ever forget, and it goes something like this and I'm butchering it, I'm sure, but you'll get the point of it the people who live in the past are depressed. The people who live in the future are full of anxiety because of all the unknowns, and it's only the people that live in the present who are truly living at all. Carry that quote with you. I carry it with me everywhere. It's engraved in my heart, right.
Speaker 1:And the reason I remind myself of this so much? Because I can find myself thinking about the past, thinking about how things used to be, and missing some form of, whether it's a person or an experience or something that maybe, as a family, we used to do together, that we all have outgrown since then. But the point is this I don't want to live in my past. I don't want to continue to stay there. I don't want to hope that the past was different, so now, that my present would be a little different. And the reason I say that is because it's setting myself up for failure. It's hoping and wishing for something that will never happen. It's hoping that my past was different, which would then, in turn, make me, my present self, a different person, and I don't want that for myself.
Speaker 1:Don't sit in the present wishing for a better past. It's a waste of energy. You can't change your past, and the sooner you accept that, I know some people are like, well duh, obviously we can't change our past, yeah, but some people live the past. They're here, sure, standing in front of you, breathing in front of you, alive with so much more ahead of them, but instead all they can focus on is how things used to be. Don't get stuck in that rut. Don't convince yourself that the best days are past you when you still have so much to look forward to Now.
Speaker 1:Now we switch the topic a little bit right. So much to look forward to? Well, how do I know what my future holds? You don't know. You don't know what the future holds, and that's the beauty of life.
Speaker 1:I always tell my closest friends if you knew what the rest of your life was going to give you exactly, you would probably want to kill yourself. That's a boring life. There's no excitement If somebody gave you the script and said tomorrow, this is exactly what you're going to do and the day after that, this is exactly what you're going to do. This is what you're going to dress in, what you're going to do, this is what you're gonna dress in, what you're gonna talk like, what you're going to eat, what you're going to do when you're going to do it, how you're going to do it, how that you're going to present yourself. Here's the attitude that's going to go along with that day. You would just be like but I don't want it to be like this, no, no, no, but this is your. That would be horrible. Nobody would want their life written for them, predetermined, right.
Speaker 1:So that's where the beauty of life comes in, because I think about my future and sometimes I get anxious, because now the conversation isn't in comparison to the past, it's not one about oh, I wish things were different back then, so then things would be different now. No, I think like what if what I'm doing right now is not good enough for the future that I see for myself? What if the choices that I am making are wrong and are not leading me to the future that I'm envisioning for myself? Those are the type of thoughts that I have when I think about my future, but when it comes to the what ifs right. What if the choices I am making are leading me to that exact future that I'm aiming for? What if every day is giving me an opportunity to get closer to the goals that I've aimed for? And that's where the future becomes exciting Instead of it filled with the unknown and the anxiety of the possibilities of failure. Instead, I think about it from the possibilities of all the different kinds of success I can create for myself.
Speaker 1:When I think about the future, I get excited. But why do I get excited? Because in my present moment, I live with purpose. In my present moment, my decisions have intentions. In my present moment, I don't wake up and hope for a good day. I wake up and choose to have one.
Speaker 1:When it comes to my future, I don't just cross my fingers and have faith and belief. I cross my fingers. I have faith and belief that, because of the action that I am taking, I am creating and leading myself to a better future. So the future and I have a very good relationship because I'm not leaving things just up to hope. I'm not just telling myself like, well, we'll see what the future holds. Well, we will see what the future holds, because the future is out of my control.
Speaker 1:You know I don't know what life has in store for me. You know I don't know what life has in store for me, but I know that with my present moment I can't directly choose my future. But I could definitely heavily influence my future and the way that I do. That is by the thoughts I entertain, the conversations I have, the choices I choose to repeat, the people that surround me, the things that I do or don't. Do you get the point? The future and I have an exciting relationship. I look forward to it. And he wakes up or she wakes up and sees that I am giving intentional effort to the decisions that I am making. And I know that because of that my future isn't guaranteed, but it is looking a little bit bright. And that's not special to me, that's not unique to Miguel. That is a thought that anybody could approach, a thought that anybody could entertain, a thought that most people simply don't entertain.
Speaker 1:It's easy to look at your past and say, man, I wish things were different, but they're not different. They've already passed. You've already gone through it. So, instead of wishing for difference, see what you came out of it, see what it made of you, see where the lessons lie, see what you could absorb and treat as a stepping stone To a better version of yourself. When I look at my past, I see everything that I don't want to be, and to some people they're like Well, turn it off, man, don't go back there. No, I love going back there. I love going back there because I use it as a comparison who I used to be compared to who I am, and who I am in comparison to who I used to be compared to who I am, and who I am in comparison to who I wish to become. That's an honest conversation. That's a conversation of accountability.
Speaker 1:The past has now become a tool for me. Anytime I remind myself, anytime I slip, anytime I look in the mirror and I say, wow, look at you, you look just like you. Whoa, don't want to be there again. Wow, look at you, you look just like you. Whoa, don't want to be there again. I've been there, done that, and I remember how I felt. I remember how I thought. I remember all the things that I wanted to change, and now those changes are here. So why do I want to continue to slip backwards into the past?
Speaker 1:The past for me has now become an inventory of stories, and those stories remind me of all the opportunities that I let slip because people were giving me a hand, people were giving me a sense of direction, some people went out of their way to make sure that I was good and I didn't appreciate that. And I see that now as I'm older. So my past is sure, filled with regret because I wish I could have chosen different. Sure, right, but I don't sit there and hold that wish to my heart so close that it now becomes a depressing thought, like man. If only things were different, no, no, no. I wish things were different, sure, but they're not. And I don't wish for it to be different so much that I make it a permanent thought in my head. Instead, I accept it as part of my journey, part of my story. And now, my past is the very reason why I am the way that I am, why I do the things that I do, why I speak the way that I speak. Without my past, I would not be here in the present. Without my past, I wouldn't have a whole closet filled of things that needed to be worked on. I am grateful for that.
Speaker 1:And the second you fix your relationship with the past. And the second. You have that conversation that says, you know, despite how maybe shitty it was, how dark it was, how depressing it was, if that's the picture that you're painting for yourself of your past, maybe you had to go through that in order to become who you are today. And if you are not happy with who you are today, that is a good acceptance to begin to create positive change and then you can focus about your future. And then you can focus about your future. And in your future, you don't tell yourself like, oh, but what if? But what if this never happens? And what if I never become? And what if I never achieve? And what if it all goes wrong? No, no, but what if you do succeed? What if you never give up? What if you aim your eyes so strictly at a goal and tell yourself, no matter what, I'm going to get that. What do you think your future will look like? Right, you get to decide that, and this is an episode about the future, the past and the present, and I like to put myself in the center of it all and remind myself that the future is uncertain.
Speaker 1:The past has already came and gone and now I sit here in the present moment and I get to decide what I want to do with that story that I've already been through and, most of all, I get to decide what I want my story to say as I continue showing up. You, my friend, have that gift as well. It is not unique to me. Everything that I speak about is never unique to me. Is my story unique to me? Yeah, it's my shoes. I'm walking the life right, but so is yours. It's your story. The shoes that you're filling you are creating the life. So I'm not here to tell you that your past wasn't dark. I'm not here to tell you that your past doesn't give purpose. I'm not here to tell you any of those things. You give your life meaning, and you get to decide how that picture is painted. You get to decide how that story is written by your actions, by the words you speak, by the way that you show up, by the attitudes that you entertain.
Speaker 1:For most people, the past is an anchor. The past is where all their justifications for lack of initiative lie, and you know what that means. The past, for most people, is the holding cell for all of their excuses, right? Well, why are you like this? Well, back in the day this happened. Well, why are you like this? Well, back in the day this happened. Well, why are you thinking like this? Well, because back in the day this happened and it's just like alright. Well, dude, that was back in the day. We are here and we are now. What about today? You know, don't let the past become the reason why you never succeed. Don't let your past be the reason why you never succeed. Don't let your past be the reason why you never try. Don't be the past be the last chapter in your book, because you spend all of your life going through it, telling people that, because of your past, you are the way that you are and, even though that person that you are is someone that you are not happy with, don't become that person. I come across that person too many times, which is why I say the few and the most Few people look at their past and understand that what they went through was what they needed to go through, even if it was painful, even if it was sad, even if it was filled with sorrow and misery.
Speaker 1:It's your past. It didn't kill you. You're here listening to this, which means that it served a purpose. And you can sit here and make the past an enemy. You can sit here and make past a negative experience. You can sit here and tell the world that the reason I'm not doing well is because of my past, and the world's going to look at you. But why have you given up on your future? Because of your past. Why aren't you taking action now? Why aren't you becoming better now With where you are, with what you have? You are here. You are alive. Your past has passed and it didn't kill you. You're still here. You are alive. Your past has passed and it didn't kill you. You're still here. And sure, you may still be experiencing negative side effects because of your past.
Speaker 1:But again, what about the future? What about all the possibilities? What if you were meant to go through those things To prepare you for the difficult future ahead? You just don't know these things. So don't live in the past. It's great to have an imagination. It's great. Listen, I'm guilty of it. I'll go into my past and I'll play scenarios and I'll be like man. If I would have gone left instead of right that day, where would I be if I would have gone left instead of right that day? Where would I be If I would have said no instead of yes that day? How many things would be different, right?
Speaker 1:But then I think to myself and I think about my present moment and the last seven going on. Eight years now, I've spent intentionally creating the person speaking to you now, working on my physique, working on my mental, working on my spiritual. I've been working on those things, and all of those things came because of all the wrong decisions I made in my past, because of all the difficulties that were placed on me in my past, because of all the depressions that I had to fight in my past. My past is the very reason why I am the way that I am today and because I know that my past was purposeful and is the very reason why I am not who I am. It just makes me excited towards the future, because now I feel as if my past, instead of becoming an anchor, my past, became the very thing that I needed to reflect on, to realize that I am capable of so much more.
Speaker 1:When I think about my past, I see all of my failures and I say look at all that you overcame, look at everything that you surmounted, look at everything that made you better. Maybe at the moment you didn't see it like that. Maybe at the moment all I saw was anger and hatred towards those specific moments that I have in my mind. But now, as I'm older, a little bit wiser, a little bit better, I think to myself wow, how grateful I am for my past. If it wasn't for it, I wouldn't be here. And that gives me all the reason to be excited for my future.
Speaker 1:Because here, in the present moment, as I'm speaking to you, it is becoming my past, and I know that back in the day my past was just hopes and wishes. Man, I would wake up. Let's see what the day has in store for us. And now, when I live with purpose, when I wake up and I say I know what I want from life and I know what I have to do to get it and I'm going for it. My future, oh man, how exciting. And all I want from this episode is for you to experience that.
Speaker 1:Reflect on your past. See the misery, see the bad, but don't forget the good and remind yourself. See where you are now. Sure, you may not be where you wish to be. Let's just say you're completely dissatisfied with who you are. That's okay. But you can only blame the past for so long Before people ask you, well, how long ago was that? And you say some crazy shit, like, well, that was 10 years ago and it's like whoa, that's a long time to be holding on to dead weight. Let it go. Make a lesson out of it, forget about it or use it to make yourself better. Those are your choices with your past, with your future. I don't got to speak about the future so much because the future is unknown. You can plan and plan and plan all you want, but at the end of the day, life has its own plan and your plan is not better than its. So, sure, make a plan, but when life says hey, hey, hey, I'm forcing you to go in this direction, don't fight it. Embrace it. Go get the experience. Go get the experience, go get the story, go get the lesson, go get the thing that you probably weren't planning for, but life had planned for you regardless. And you do that by being present. You do that by asking yourself the important questions. You do that by listening to Compounding Daily. That's all I have today.
Speaker 1:I always say that I'm going to give a short episode, and this is probably one of the longest episodes I've made in a while. I didn't know how I was going to get this message across. I didn't know how I was going to paint the picture. You know, because I know that the things that I speak about are not unique to me. A lot of the inspiration that I get from my topics, from my ideas, are because of my own story, because of my own journey, and a lot of it is just from listening to videos, reading the books, watching my mentors, studying the people that I look up to.
Speaker 1:I look at people and I say you have what I want, how did you do it so I can do it too. I look at people and I say you have what I want, how did you do it so I can do it too, with the understanding that I can't just copy and paste, because we're different people. So I just want to take a little bit of you and make it a little bit of mine, so I can implement and learn and experience and become. That is the whole purpose with this show, you know. So for me to sit here and speak about the things that I speak about, know that the goal remains the same for you to gain value and become better. I'm never telling you that what you're doing is wrong. I'm not telling you that what I'm doing is right. I'm telling you that what I'm doing is working for me. And if it's working for me, it has to work for you, because I'm not special.
Speaker 1:And with that being said, forget about the past. Use it, sure, but don't let it become the dominating thought in your mind of wishing things were different. Be present in the moment and understand that in the present moment, you get to choose differently. You can change the trajectory of your life with one decision. Choose differently. You can change the trajectory of your life with one decision. As my favorite mentor says, you can't change destination overnight, but you can change direction, and you change direction with the choices that you make. And the future, or the future, is looking bright. If you are listening to this, chances are the future is full of opportunities. To this. Chances are the future is full of opportunities. Chances are the future is already making a phenomenal plan for you and it's just waiting for you to continue showing up and taking action. Think about that and together let's become better.
