In certain situations I feel that looking backwards can be a benefit; I don't mean dwelling on the past though, I mean learning from it, and that doesn't even have to be our own past because we're able to learn from other's experiences as well. Not only do I think it's a good thing to do, I think it's one of the best ways to understand what directions we may need to take as far as our thoughts, attitudes and actions are concerned.
Don't look back, you're not going that way
A fair comment and certainly it's relevant in some situations but, like I say above, understanding and learning from the past can be of great benefit when determining the future; furthermore, looking in the mirror, I mean self evaluation has merit too.
I'm interested to hear if any of y'all have looked back upon past situations, events and outcomes and learned something that has helped you create better outcomes in the future, and present as well I suppose.
Do you feel that reflecting on the past and moving forward with better understandings and decisions that information and experience can bring works for you? How have you turned it to your advantage and have you ever found yourself failing to make the appropriate changes and suffering for it?
If you have some comments please share them below.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
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Image(s) in this post are my own
I'm assuming I'm probably looking back at least somewhat whenever I'm researching whether I'm intending that or not XD
I like researching I just don't do it properly because I don't need to for the most part x_x
The amount of times I've said DIDN'T YOU FREAKING LEARN FROM LAST TIME since uni days tells me not glancing back is about as much of a problem as looking back and then staying there and refusing to keep going forward.
If people don't look back on past experiences the present and future would be as good. Imaging someone who touched a hot oven as a kid and burned themselves... without learning from it (and changing behaviour) life is probably going to be pretty painful.
We all learn from the past, I think the smart people learn faster and more effectively.
Of course, we all probably fail to learn as quitas we should too.
I look to learn from the past. But I also find myself dwelling on the mistakes. Even iff I did learn from them and came out better for it. I still find myself reliving some of them and critiquing every little bit of it in my head. Like I am watching a video replay of something on the TV.
I believe that if everyone was honest they would say the same or similar. I certainly do as well and sometimes it's ok, sometimes not. The human memory, as far as I understand, doesn't really have the ability to simply forget or reset, it takes time, effort and a whole lot of progression for the past to find itself on a shelf out of the way. So, it makes sense that we go back over things from the past. I believe it's sort of ok, but when a person finds themselves stuck back there, dwelling and wallowing in it, when it becomes a real problem.
I am not sure if I wllow in in it, but I sure do spend late nights soemtimes talking wiht my dog if you know what I mean.
Nah, not you, others. You don't seem like a wallower to me.
I think with friendship, before like until university, I was quite easy on it a lot and had a lot of faith in so called friends, but after disappointments now I'm way more strict on giving it... Burned once, not more
Yep, the people we allow to surround us often changes with the experiences we have; it's been the same for me over the years.
Nothing live changing that I can think of at the moment. The only looking back I'm working on at the moment is my sourdough journey, my new hobby. It's opened up a new world to me, lots of art and science involved and after every bake, I write down everything little step I did and the outcome, and read back before I start my next bake.
Just dud my last bake yesterday, and am already seeing a little improvement. When a 5 year old fussy pot eater who only like bread demands 4 pieces, you know you're heading the right direction
Now I want heavily buttered sourdough bread. 😬
Cooking is certainly an area in which people can use the past to improve the future.
P.s. Still want that bread.
After my divorce in 2006 I was involved in fashion photography. Since there were models, hair stylists and makeup artists all around me I tried dating all of the above. I quickly understood that those don't make a good potential wife.
So I switched my target profile and in process found a really lucrative photography niche: High End Dating agency... That is how I found my current wife 😀
That's the way to go, see what worked and did not and do more or less based on which is going to deliver better results, or change it up completely.
Bet you were having the time of your life after your divorce!!!
Well, I would not complain about those ten years, but I am actually a very family oriented guy.
I think looking back isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I think when reflection turns to regret, that is when you need to drop it and just move forward.
Everyone has regrets, I don't believe people when they say they do not. It can motivate to do better the next time.
Wallowing in the past isn't healthy though.
In my journey of self-discovery, I have looked back a great deal, not only to learn about myself but also about my ancestors, and to make amends where necessary. I believe this is essential for becoming a better person. A few days ago, something happened with someone that was very similar to something that happened in the past. It seemed like a broken promise. I paused, looked at what had happened in the past, reflected in great detail before speaking, and saw that there were notable differences; consequently, I reacted differently, and that made all the difference, further strengthening my relationship with that person.
As expected. I assume also, because you're human and fallible, that you've got it wrong too.
It happens a lot, but you learn from it... provided the person is willing to learn.