“He who forgets the past is doomed to relive it”

“Forgetting is the greatest gift given to man (I wonder?)” Like everyone, you may want to completely forget the difficulties, some events and deep sorrows that you had in the past, and not face again the feelings that they caused in you. It’s very human and natural. On the other hand, it is your past, for better or worse, that has made you who you are today. By pocketing the lessons learned from past experiences, a person can move forward with more confident steps towards the future. Otherwise, he will repeat similar mistakes.Why do I always experience the same things? he asks. Because “He who forgets the past is doomed to relive it”.

History repeats itself or just sometimes rhymes

“History repeats itself.” / “He who cannot learn from the past is doomed to relive it.”

You have probably heard these words before. Although it is not known exactly who said this, according to some sources, the author and philosopher George SantayanaBelieved to be owned by Santayana was known for his aphorisms and for being a professor of philosophy at Harvard, which he left. According to his philosophy history repeats itself. The phrase is definitely catchy. Not only because it is so widely used, but if it is true and history driven by human nature is non-functional, then this saying management of personal and social life Maybe.

If you think about it disagree with the feeling that history repeats itself You understand that it is difficult. Necessary our country whether History of the USA and Europeinevitably failed empires that ended AND with brutal dictatorships complete… just states, societies No; faces even for this word. Couples who don’t learn from their fights eventually break up. People who don’t learn from their mistakes will never grow up.

So it’s a perfectly understandable idea that everything good and bad about people, about how we organize ourselves, will generate the same patterns as long as we continue to make history as a species. We can get caught up in some irrationality that leads us down the same difficult paths over and over again.

Recall the following phrase from Mark Twain: “History doesn’t repeat itself, it just rhymes sometimes”.

Fine we can’t change the past but looking at what happened we can recognize his rhyme scheme. We may not be in control of the future, but we can design it better by creating a new rhyming scheme.

Don’t forget the past, learn from it!

Popular culture says: “Don’t dwell on the past, don’t worry about the future, live in the present”. Of course, there is some truth in this statement. Most of us define ourselves by the choices we made in the past. However, this should not be. After all, every new day offers us the opportunity to become a new person on the way to the future. However, those who simply want to forget the past are missing out on its full potential. Valuable lessons can be learned from the past. That’s why those who ask the right questions about the past can live life to the fullest “in the moment.”

Think of the lessons we can learn from both our individual and social history… These are the lessons we can learn only by asking the right questions. If we don’t forget, we can take better steps tomorrow thanks to the lessons we’ve learned from the past. Here are some questions you can ask to learn from the past instead of forgetting it:

• Strengths that define us: The abilities we use to navigate and add value to the world determine the life we ​​live and the changes we can make. By remembering our past strengths, we can better recognize opportunities today.
• Weaknesses that let us down: We all have some weaknesses in terms of personality and competence. When left unaddressed, these shortcomings limit our potential for influence and importance. So open up and get to know them. Learn to overcome them by asking others for help.
• Reasons that give us energy: Our lives find their greatest joy when we help others discover themselves. Think; What social causes have inspired you in the past? What role have you been able to play in helping others? And how can such activities breathe new energy into your life today?
• Relationships that inspire us: Throughout life, we undoubtedly meet many people who inspire us to become the best version of ourselves. So what do these people have in common? Can you surround yourself with people like them today?

• Environment that leads us astray: The company we work for and the culture we work in either inspire us or hinder our development. Have there been relationships in your past that constantly dragged you down and led to destructive decisions? If so, try to learn from your past to avoid them.
• Habits that invigorate us: Throughout our lives, we receive help from various disciplines to get the most out of it. We discover a new diet, a new fitness app, or a new morning routine. We try them; Of course, some work, some don’t. Eventually, these new disciplines either become habits or are erased from our memory. Look at the past. Identify the habits that bring energy, health, and vitality into your life. And hug them again.
• Love that brings us joy: Different problems in our minds and emotions in our hearts bring different amounts of joy, meaning and fulfillment to our lives. What love in your life has brought you joy? Have you distanced yourself from them? If so, come back. As you do this, pay attention to what pushed you away from them in the first place.
• The dependencies that control us: We are people who often hand over control of our most valuable asset to someone else. We are influenced by substances, things, people and entertainment. When we do this, our life is no longer ours. Identify the recurring controlling addictions in your life and humbly seek the help you need to remove their influence on you.
• Motives that push us: Deep in our hearts, our motivation is high. It determines the decisions we make, how we use our time, and the words we choose. Understanding our deepest motives is really difficult. It requires calmness, patience and consistent self-esteem. But the more we know why we do what we do, the easier it is for us to make the most of the moment we live in today.

Thus, if we start asking the right questions, we can learn countless lessons from our past. Although the past offers so many opportunities for today and tomorrow, forgetting it completely will do us more harm than good.

Sources: big thoughts, becoming a minimalist

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