The Past Affects the Now and the Future - Essay Example

Introduction The past has drastic influences on both the present and the future. Although, the future is yet to be seen, and can be altered, the past is unchangeable by what people think and do in the present. What took place in the past or yesterday is over and only acts to shape the tomorrow. The past, present and the tomorrow met every day, minute and hour, in fact they meet each moment; these times may not look different, but they are just a dream. Discussions The past affects the now and the future The earlier life is very crucial in people’s lives as it forms part of their our history. Past events and experiences designs and shapes our present feelings, personality traits and present manifested behavior, (Darnton 123). All the experiences that people have been through during childhood dramatically influence the present and future life. Ones past constantly affect his present and will keep influencing his present and future as long as one is not aware of the linkage between his past, present and future. In fact, some psychoanalysts and psychologists argue that one’s present life is a product of the past events, experiences and behavior. Early memories of childhood are the foundation from which most of the people begin to form their beliefs, norms and value about the universe. For instance, if a young child believed that his family is according extra attention and care to his younger brother then he may grow with the misconception that his parents adore his younger brother than him. This past event influence the life of this child later on, because the child will grow with the belief that someone else is better preferred over him. When that boy matures and marries, he might begin thinking that the wife is infidel whenever she associates or smiles to another man. In this case, the initial believe that developed during childhood influenced the man’s perception of life. This is just an example to show how past events or beliefs can influence a person’s life both in the present and in the future. How does the past affect who we are? Most people agree on the fact that their present life is a product of their experiences, their education, environment, and genetics. These are some of the events that took place in the past (mainly during childhood) – things that people carry with them all through to both present and the future. In terms of the experiences, people made decisions concerning such experiences that they consequently carry forward with them. In fact, people project such experiences into their tomorrow and expect such dreams, decisions, thoughts and beliefs to continue being real, (Darnton 128). For instance thoughts such as “I am good for nothing, they don’t love me, I am ugly” when people project these thoughts out into their future - with expectations of them being true in the present and future – people perpetuate themselves being the same people they believe to be tomorrow. In other words, they recreate the similar experiences over time, proving to themselves that they are indeed, that person of the past. Times is must spend and slowly and steadily running. This is the steadiest progress that one can speak about -time. Thus, each moment of an individuals’ life is exactly a yesterday’s time. When we were born, we began this journey of life at zero, and now several decades of our lifetime are spend. Thus, people definitely have a history, a past, indeed. Reflecting back at the past, we discover some happy moments and other unhappy moments. The past only makes a different through one’s perception of the current and future world around him. The past defines one’s ways of perceiving the current and the tomorrow’s world. It shapes our expectations, behavior, and values of the world and events taking place now and in the future. Therefore, it is evident that one’s past life increasingly affects his thoughts, views and choices that he makes in the current life and for next life to come. Can we change the past? As earlier mention, the past is unchangeable, therefore, we can only bear with it or modify it by changing our perceptions and beliefs of it. Experts agree that the past only affects or present, therefore, to change it, we need to change its relationship with the current and future. For instance, time is non-existent, it is just an illusion, therefore, recalling what we refer to as time, and altering our thoughts, we will influence our current experience. People’s current truth is literally affected by their thoughts and beliefs of the yesterday. In the real sense, people cannot change their past, because the past is real and it represents one’s history. One history is highly crucial because history aids to make conclusions or generalizations from the earlier events. Experts construe that history to humankind race, what memory is to all human beings, (Darnton 139). History sheds some insights of the earlier life upon the current, therefore, assisting people to understand themselves, by making them acquainted with their colleagues. In addition, as we study the development and decline of civilizations, empires and kingdoms, the past lessons aid us to prevent the challenges or shortcomings of the present and future. Meaning of history in our lives History is crucial to make peoples’ lives richer by providing meaning to books we read, towns we visit, music we sing and hear and other aspects of human life. It also widens our outlook by presenting to us race admixtures, association, and assimilation of cultures and extraordinary drama of creating the current world from various forces. History allows people to grasp their relationship with their past. For instance, if we wonder why the flag of United States has forty-eight stars and why monarch is crucial tradition in Great Britain, then we have to go back to history to look for solutions. Of great importance, history protects and strengthens our national traditional and cultural values. It acts as a beacon light, directing our community in confronting diverse challenges. History, in fact is a bridge linking the past and the current and guiding the road to our tomorrow. Human beings can modify their past by modifying their perception of it; for instance, when people alter their way of thinking of earlier occurrences, they tap into alternative past timeline which alter the reality and imaginations. The alternate historical timelines results to some things, which have occurred in peoples’ alternate current reality. Thus, the manipulation of reality with consciousness may lead to synchronicities happening in the now or tomorrow of their real timelines, as it combines with an alternative past. Since memories are unforgettable – implying that we cannot change or escape our past – experts agree that changing one’s view of the past is partially altering the past and its memory. If one alters his perception of an event of the past, he will alter all the events connected with it. Therefore, this is just like changing the past although one cannot forget or escape his memories of the past. In actual sense, the past makes our present and future, therefore we our experiences and present and future behavior, values, beliefs and thoughts to our past. Can we escape the past? Now that the past is inescapable, unforgettable, part of our history and has great impacts on our present and future, what can we do to prevent the past from ruining or influencing our present and future? Experts assert that the first step is to be aware of the past events and experiences that affected one’s life the most. Experts agree that memories are unforgettable, therefore, whether we like it or not, we must recall the past events and experiences that affected our lives in one way or the other. Similarly, it is increasingly crucial to remember our past because it forms part of our history. Conclusion In conclusion, therefore, it is crucial to remember valuable past memories that add value to the present and dictate our future belief system. In addition, it is paramount to replace and prevent past incorrect interpretations from affecting and dictating the present life and substitute the false beliefs with real beliefs. Works cited Darnton, Robert. The Case for Books: Past, Present, and Future. New York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2009. Print. Read More