The Dangerousness of Living in Your Past

Jumanji 1995

At times I have bouts where I suffer from episodes of incessant nostalgia which sometimes cause my eyes to water from laughter or pain, while I distantly stare off into the distance.  And truth be told, looking back upon the past is not wrong to do in the slightest. There are numerous lessons that we can learn at differing ages in our life that will allow us to glean new wisdom due to our maturing perspectives that come with age. That makes it easier to delve into memory to learn something valuable, enable it to benefit, and advise us in our decisions later to come.  Honestly, who doesn’t like to have the ability to fondly look back and reminisce on those positive memories from back in the day? 

However, for some people, this constant reflecting upon the past can turn into an unhealthy habit, unfortunately.  The past is filled with memories that have positive scents or create a sour taste in our mouths depending on the experience, as we all know.  Continuing to reshape the present to fit the mold of what their past was, can damage not just themselves but others who are connected to them.  The reliance upon memories that have passed to create an "ideal world" for yourself robs you of the present time and future possibilities that can occur. Ultimately, this train of thought can lead someone down a disillusioned path of striving to re-create events that have long passed. 

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I find living in your past to be such a dangerous headspace to be in especially in today’s harsh pandemic. Many people have put their lives in jeopardy as a result of a desire to go back to the way things were before the pandemic. I don’t blame them, because I’m pretty sure that most of the whole world shares the same sentiments. However, there have been some instances where individuals do not obey COVID-19 protocols and put themselves and others at risk. This incessant belief that if we can just get back to the way things were, then we’ll be alright has flooded our media, our mind’s and even our dinner conversations. Acquiring the ability to adapt to extreme and oftentimes unforeseen circumstances is a skill that is not taught much today. Resting on the laurels of what once was is severely dangerous during transitional periods in our lives because it can hinder and even contaminate present opportunities. Being blind to what lies in front of us is typically due to our eyes being so stubbornly fixated on what has occurred behind us in our lives. Allowing the chains of the past to impede your progression holds you in a state of longing and disillusionment. 

Instead, I believe that the best solution for those of us who have a difficult time letting go of the past is to change our perspective on how we view it. What do I mean by that? Coming to the recognition that past actions and experiences were all stepping stones to lead you forward into the presents’ future, can drastically break the original train of thought. A physical representation of this could be seen in hoarders. I’m sure we all know somebody who is an obsessive hoarder. Whether it be boxes of dust-ridden items kept in a garage, scrap heaps of papers long lost to humanity, or even overcrowding desk trinkets that aren’t even used for motivation, we all know them. Or, this person might just very well be you. The point is that while we can tangibly see the issue of accruing so much junk that it clutters what could be an organized constructive space. Until the emotional detachment and epiphany of revelation occur that those items are impeding room for growth, the house becomes more cramped and less accommodating. This exact concept applies in the understanding that the past was a useful tool of moments and time that are the building blocks of your development today. The present is a gift. The irony in the terminology is awesome. Take advantage of using those past experiences as applicable teaching mechanisms that can elevate your decision-making and enhance your wisdom in years to come. 

I know I haven’t written a post in a while, and I am sorry for the delay. But I pray that you who are reading this post, find it to be insightful, encouraging, and beneficial to your well-being. Have a good one!

“Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.” —Herman Hesse