We have been educated basically from conditioning, attributions and mandates that have shaped our perception of the world and our interaction with it. Phrases like "you are like this", "you are like your father", "you are clumsy" We were conditioned from childhood, creating a set of beliefs about ourselves that, in many cases, are false y limiting.
The problem lies in putting more emphasis on what we believe rather than what we can create. Our brain, as a learning tool, has two fundamental innate abilities: understanding and memory. Both are essential for process our past experiences, but we rarely use them in a balanced way.
Memory: The king of our mind
Memory allows us retain experiences to avoid dangers and make decisions. However, we have glorified memory, making it the central axis of our lives. For example, when looking at a tree, instead of perceiving it fully, we assimilate it to memories or pre-existing categories in our mind. This mechanism can limit our ability to live in the present, locking us into patterns of the past.
Instead of balancing memory with understanding, we experience things through the filter of our previous experiences. This can be useful to avoid mistakes, but it can also condition our way of seeing the world, restricting our freedom to react in an original and genuine way.
The power of understanding
While memory retains, understanding allows us to interpret, to remain and live fully in the present. However, we have forgotten this essential capacity of our mind. We simply do not know to be, looking at a flower, an object or a moment without reinterpreting it or loading it with historical meanings.
When we allow our mind to understand without ties to the past, both our inner world as external become free and spontaneous. In this state, our reactions are not conditioned, and we can interact with the world in a more authentic and creative.
The impact of past experiences on current perception
Emotions associated with our past experiences have a profound impact on our decisions and how we interpret the world. According to psychological studies, these experiences can influence us in two main ways:
- Emotional bias: Our current emotions may be an extension of what we have experienced, generating automatic reactions to similar circumstances.
- Prevalent memories: Memories of intense experiences, whether positive or negative, shape our future choices and behaviors.
The Dual Processing Theory indicates that our mind uses two different systems to make decisions: one Speed and intuitive (System 1) and another slow and deliberate (System 2). Accumulated experiences reside in System 1, influencing our quick and emotional decisions, while System 2 allows us to take decisions more analytical and rational.
How to heal the relationship with the past
To heal and learn from the past, it is crucial balance memory and understanding. This involves accepting our experiences as they were, without judging them or getting stuck in them. Acceptance frees us, allowing us to draw useful lessons and move on.
For example, instead of obsessing over past mistakes, we can analyze how these shaped us to make better decisions in the future. psychotherapy and introspection are also valuable tools for identifying harmful patterns and transforming them into growth opportunities.
When we let the past inform us, rather than control us, we become active agents of our present and conscious builders of our future. Freedom lies not in forgetting the past, but in understanding it and using it to create a fulfilling present and an enriching future.