Acharya Prashant addresses the challenge of starting a new life when people from one's past continue to remind them of their old actions. He begins by questioning the premise, stating that if one has truly left the past behind, it is contradictory to still be surrounded by the same old situations and people. He explains that leaving the past is not merely a mental event. If you have mentally decided to leave the past behind, but have kept everything in your external life the same, then it is unlikely that any real internal change has occurred. When something truly changes within, that transformation must also be visible on the outside. He elaborates that leaving the past behind involves changing one's external circumstances as well. This includes changing one's body, habits, and environment. He suggests that if one is not bound by any compulsion, then everything can be changed—your body, your clothes, your room, and even the people around you. There is no obligation to retain anything from the past. He emphasizes that one should not give anyone the right to ruin their life, not even a drowning person has the right to pull you down with them. Your foremost responsibility is the upliftment of your own consciousness. Regarding relationships, particularly with parents, Acharya Prashant advises that they too are human beings. While one should try to explain things to them with love and understanding, if they are unwilling to change and continue to pull you back into the past, you are not obligated to let them ruin your life. He refers to a work by Kabir Saheb, "Ud Jayega Hans Akela" (The swan will fly away alone), to illustrate that ultimately, everyone is alone and relationships are temporary. He concludes that while one should have love and compassion for all, including family, and wish for their well-being, you cannot sacrifice your own life for a relationship that is destructive. If you ruin your life to maintain a relationship, you are not only harming yourself but also the other person.