I play some golf. When I’m playing well, I hit a shot and then, if it’s a bad shot, I forget about it. I forget about it because in golf, the last shot doesn’t matter; it’s the next shot that could make or break your round.

When I’m not playing well, I can’t seem to let go of even one bad shot. I ruminate on each one and let them build on each other. Pretty quickly, almost every shot becomes a bad one. My focus moves from only the next shot matters to do not hit another bad shot.

I literally think myself into a bad shot by focusing on what has happened instead of what I want to happen. And once I start down that road, it seems darn near impossible to turn off.

Life can be a lot like that too. When we hit a tough patch, we tend to forget about the good times. We focus on what’s gone wrong in the past, sometimes even the distant past, at the expense of seeing the good things happening today and the awesome things that are possible in the future.

If you find yourself in that situation and you’re losing focus on your next opportunity for success, here are a few things to keep in mind.

The past is unchangeable, but the present is your launchpad: Every second spent ruminating on yesterday’s mistakes robs energy from today’s decisions; channeling your focus forward turns regrets into lessons and wins into momentum.

Future-oriented thinking drives growth: Neuroscience shows that visualizing positive outcomes activates the same brain pathways as real achievement—shifting from “what was” to “what could be” sparks creativity, resilience, and measurable progress.

Living in the present boosts health and happiness: Studies from Harvard and the American Psychological Association link mindfulness (fully engaging now) to lower stress, better immune function, and stronger relationships—while dwelling on the past correlates with anxiety and depression.

Opportunity compounds in real time: Markets, careers, and personal goals reward consistent daily action; obsessing over historical “what-ifs” misses compounding and potential opportunities that could lead to massive success.

My golf game is proof that these thoughts don’t always clear my mind of past shortcomings. But keeping these four thoughts top of mind does give me a chance to turn away from negativity and onto the path of success.

I’m confident they will do the same for you if you give them a shot. Just remember, the last opportunity is gone and whether it worked out or not, the next opportunity is ten times more important than the last one.