Every single person has specific memories they will cherish and recall forever. But when it comes to remembering bad moments, why do people decide to forget them and move on? From a personal perspective, I believe our past will remain unmodified, but the resulting memories, whether good or bad, leave behind valuable lessons. Even though others may view the opposite, it has been proven that the ability to remember outstanding moments in our life helps us thrive because we are guided or inspired by the experiences and observations we lived.
Research, itself, has proved that humans derive knowledge, guidance, and inspiration from past experiences and observations, so why do people continue to hinder their past? An article titled, “Memories Help Us Learn,” described how scientist from the University of Texas concluded that memories are an essential source for success. “‘Memories are not just for reflecting on the past; they help us make the best decisions for the future,’ says Preston” (1). Intellectuals, like Preston, say that because of memories we are guided and inspired towards success by making effective choices.
Memories made by observations in the past help us in an effort to learn from them and receive inspiration to succeed. For instance, a very personal observation, I obtained understanding and currently use as motivation, was when my father was seeking for a well-paid job but wasn’t able to because he needed a higher level of education, ending in a position he detested, while being paid poorly. From this memory, I learned that if we want to work in a job where we earn lots money, education will be the road to get there, inspiring me to put forth my full potential in school. Remembering and learning from past observations encourages us to pursue the degree of prosperity we desire.
Since we all acquire guidance through the memories we developed by experience, the present and future have prepared for us a life with incredible accomplishments. No matter the type of memory, it will eternally retain a lesson that will guide us in other situations. For example, a few months ago, I was given multiple assignments, which resulted in me over stressing and not completing none of my tasks. Days after, my teacher announced we were going to take a test and said studying would determine our score. After reviewing the items I had to study, I began to stress but later realized it wouldn’t take me anywhere. My experience was a clear example of how memorable lessons from the past guide us in the present and future since, in my case, applying the lesson I learned, allowed me to complete studying in a successful manner. The experiences we’ve confronted give us all an opportunity to reconnect with the past and apply this wisdom to our present or future.
Having memories from the past, whether they bring pain or joy, has been proven helpful in our effort to prosper because we obtain guidance or inspiration through the experiences and observations one encountered. If we ignore our past, we will constantly be open to the same challenges, generating no improvement nor success. Always remember that “You can’t change the past, but you can learn from it and change the present!”
