You don't have to be caught by the past, either recent or distant. You need not obey five minutes ago or five years ago. With the following declaration you can catch depression, anxiety or any negative emotion right when it first appears. It is like a snowball rolling down a hill. At the top of the hill the snowball is small and can easily be stopped.
Negativity is the same way.
It is very weak when it first starts to form. So much mental anguish is caused by defending ourselves when we make a mistake. If you are going to be a concert pianist, or an airline pilot, or a professional sales person, you most certainly will make mistakes. It is part of the learning process. People who are afraid to make mistakes never grow.