Take Care of Old Business

If you're on a journey of rebuilding your life after addiction, incarceration, or other major setbacks, you know how important it is to stay focused on your goals and keep moving forward. But there's one crucial step that many people overlook in their eagerness to start fresh: dealing with old business.

What do I mean by "old business"? I'm talking about all those loose ends from your past that you've been avoiding or putting off—legal issues, debts, broken relationships, unresolved conflicts—the stuff that keeps nagging at you even as you try to focus on your new path.

It's easy to ignore those things and convince yourself that you'll deal with them later. After all, you're already juggling so much, like staying sober, finding a job, or adjusting to life after prison. But the reality is those old issues will continue. They will resurface, often at the most inconvenient times, and demand your attention. It's a matter of when, not if.

Consider this: as you work diligently to build a new reputation and demonstrate to the world (and yourself) that you've transformed, the weight of unresolved issues can threaten to undo your progress. But imagine the freedom and peace of mind of resolving those old business matters. It's not just about avoiding future problems; it's about creating a solid foundation for the future you're building.

Here's what happened to one of my former clients.

Mitch was reentering from a variety of challenging situations, incarceration and homelessness topping the list. But he was making progress. He had a job he liked and had reconnected with family. Little by little, things were coming together. On Thursday afternoon, while on a break from work, he walked over to 7/11, skipping the crosswalk and cutting across a busy street on his way. A cop spotted him, pulled him aside, and found a pile of old bench warrants when he ran Mitch. He didn't return to work. Mitch spent four nights in jail waiting to go before the judge on Monday morning. Ironically, most of the warrants were dismissed (good), but Mitch was fired (very bad).

The lesson from this real-life example is clear - take the initiative. Mitch should have dealt with these bench warrants before securing his job. But he didn’t. As a result, at the most inconvenient moment, his past issues resurfaced and pulled him back.

That's why cleaning up old businesses is so essential. It's not just about tying up practical loose ends (although that's important too). It's about taking responsibility for your past and making things right. It's about building a solid base for your new life so that you're not constantly looking over your shoulder or waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I know, easier said than done, right? Facing your old demons can be scary, overwhelming, and downright discouraging. You might be afraid of the consequences, ashamed to confront the people you've hurt, or just feeling hopeless about ever getting out from under the weight of your past.

But here's the good news - you don't have to do it alone, and you don't have to do it all at once. The key is to take it one step at a time and reach out for help when needed.

Start by listing all the unresolved issues from your past that still hang over your head. Get specific - write down names, dates, amounts owed, etc. Just getting it all out on paper can be a relief.

Then, prioritize that list. What's the most pressing issue that's most likely to trip you up if you don't deal with it? Start there. It might be resolving old warrants (think Mitch), contacting a creditor to set up a payment plan, or writing a letter to a family member you've estranged from.

Whatever it is, break it down into small, manageable steps. Try to tackle things one at a time, claiming small incremental victories to avoid burnout and giving up. And remember, you don't have to take this on alone. Contact your support network - your sponsor, therapist, mentor, trusted friends, and family. Let them know what you're working on and ask for their help and accountability. You'd be amazed by how many people are willing to support you when you take steps to clean up your past and do the right thing.

Now, I won't sugarcoat it - cleaning up old business can be long and sometimes painful. You might have to have difficult conversations, make sacrifices, or face hard truths about yourself and your actions. But the other side of that discomfort is a profound sense of freedom, empowerment, and achievement. I have seen it.

When you take responsibility for your past and do the work to make things right, you send a powerful message to yourself and the world. You're saying, "I'm not running from my mistakes anymore. I'm owning them, learning from them, and making amends. I'm building a life of integrity and purpose, one choice at a time."

It's hard to overstate the importance of addressing old business and is undoubtedly hard work. But it must be done. The key to success is to keep showing up, reaching out, and doing the next right thing. Your future self will thank you.

Onward!