Pillars of Salt: Escaping Regret and Fear of Tomorrow

Regret? Looking back? Not living in the present moment?

It seems like that these themes kept surfacing in recent posts by thought leaders I respect and enjoy following.

Looking back reminded me of Lot’s wife, turned into a pillar of salt. Thought of that image always made me shudder.

Who wants to become a pillar of salt — and then crumble?

Symbolically, as Google notes, “The story is often interpreted as a warning against disobeying God, clinging to the past, and the consequences of sin.”

A song also came to mind — one of my favorite Oasis’ songs, “Don’t Look Back in Anger.”

Whether through regret or longing, we’re all guilty of looking back. Yet when we look back, we fail — and even refuse — to live in the present. And if we can’t live in the present, we can’t move forward either.

We’re stuck.

The opposite is true as well. Instead of savoring present moment — now, we tend to worry about tomorrow. That theme was also present in recent posts.

And that reminded me of Jesus’s words in Matthew 6:34: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”

But — we still do.

And once again, that leaves us stuck.

So, what can we do to stop looking back? And to stop worrying about tomorrow? First of all, why do we look back, which I posed to ChatGPT, and here are its responses:

10 Reasons People Keep Looking Back

1. Regret over missed opportunities or poor choices
2. Unresolved guilt about past actions
3. Nostalgia for a time that seemed happier or simpler
4. Fear of change and uncertainty about the future
5. Attachment to people, places, or identities once cherished
6. Lack of closure in relationships or experiences
7. Perfectionism and wishing to “redo” what went wrong
8. Comparison — believing the past was “better” than now
9. Grief and reluctance to let go of loss
10. Comfort zone — the past feels safer than the unknown

And what strategies can we implement to combat such behavior? Back to AI:

10 Strategies to Stop Looking Back with Regret

1. Acknowledge, then release what can’t be changed.
2. Write a closure letter to your past self or situation.
3. Practice gratitude daily for what’s here, now.
4. Reframe regret as a lesson that built strength or wisdom.
5.  Limit “what-if” thinking by focusing on “what’s next.”
6. Visualize your future self thriving because of what you learned.
7. Engage your senses — grounding yourself in the present moment.
8. Create new traditions or goals to replace outdated ones.
9. Forgive yourself and others — fully, not partially.
10. Celebrate progress, no matter how small, as proof of growth.

10 Strategies to Stop Worrying About Tomorrow

1. Focus on your sphere of control — what you can influence today.
2. Set small daily intentions, not huge long-term pressures.
3. Journal your worries, then write possible solutions beside each.
4. Pray or meditate, giving tomorrow to God.
5. Schedule “worry time” — limit rumination to 10 minutes a day.
6. Simplify your commitments to reduce overwhelm.
7. Replace “what if” with “even if” — building confidence in resilience.
8. Establish an evening routine that signals the day is done.
9. Use affirmations like “I have enough for today.”
10. Reflect nightly on wins — proof that tomorrow often works itself out.

10 Strategies for Living in the Now and Enjoying It

1. Practice Daily Gratitude — Begin or end your day naming three blessings; gratitude anchors your heart to the present.
2. Pause and Breathe Intentionally — Slow, mindful breaths calm the mind and bring you back to now.
3. Savor the Simple Things — Notice the beauty in everyday moments; they are life’s quiet gifts.
4. Disconnect to Reconnect — Step away from screens and noise; silence restores presence and peace.
5. Do One Thing at a Time — Focus fully on a single task; attention deepens joy and purpose.
6. Set Boundaries with “Future You” — Plan wisely, but don’t let tomorrow’s tasks steal today’s joy.
7. Engage Your Senses — See, hear, touch, taste, and smell intentionally; presence begins with awareness.
8. Serve Someone Else — Acts of kindness root you in compassion and the gift of now.
9. Forgive and Release — Let go of old pain; forgiveness frees you to embrace today.
10. Celebrate Daily Wins — Honor small victories; they are reminders that life unfolds one moment at a time.

Moving Forward without Regret

Also to move forward, here are a few resources: The Bible in 52 Weeks: A Yearlong Bible Study for Women – for readers who want to deepen faith and reflection; The Mindfulness Journal: Daily Practices, Writing Prompts, and Reflections – encourages focusing on now; and The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle – timeless classic on living in the present moment.

Remember, our lives are but a speck in the realm of time. Why would we want to waste any priceless and precious time of the present worrying about the future? When we savor each moment in the now, we never become stuck — in time

Instead, we are investing in the future — in tomorrow.

~ ~ ~

I’m Ruth Anita Foote, an award-winning journalist, historian, author, and online entrepreneur — passionate about helping you enhance your business, career, and lifestyle. Whether you need writing, editing, research, or online business development, I’m here to support your growth. My goal is to empower you to elevate your success and make a lasting impact in your field. You can connect to all my social media platforms through Linktr.ee