By Remez Sasson
Do you think that your life in the past was better than the present?
Do you miss the “good old days?”
Quite often people, not just old people, but people of all ages yearn to the past, believing it was a better time. They think and feel that their childhood, adolescence, and the time they were young was a great time. They think and believe that everything was better than it is now. This sometimes might be true, but not always. If you analyze these thoughts and feelings in an unprejudiced manner, you will arrive to the conclusion that your earlier years were not as great as you imagine. I have a certain theory about this, which I would like to share with you.
People do not yearn to the actual past, to past circumstances and situations, which sometimes were good, and sometimes not so good. They yearn to something else. They yearn to two things.
They yearn to the period when they were quite young, when they didn’t worry about money, work and possessions. They yearn to the times when they had no worries and problems, when grown up people took care of everything. It was a carefree period, and this is what they are missing now.
Then there is another important thing, which they yearn to, albeit unconsciously. Most people, from the age of about 16 to about 30 have dreams, expectations, zest and energy. They are still young and the future is before them. Often, there is a certain feeling of euphoria and great expectations. This is the time when people are at the start of their life, still able to think big, before settling down, getting a job, getting married, and entering the hustle and bustle of life.
When young, people use their imagination and daydream about a fabulous future, but as time rolls by, they forget their dreams and don’t use their imagination as before.
When you think about the past, the feelings of joy, happiness and expectation associated with it awaken, and you feel good. Then you associate those feelings with the past, and get the impression that the past was a better time. Actually, what you are yearning to is to the feelings of euphoria that you experienced when young, to the dreams and expectations, which are gone now.
My advice to you is to awaken those feelings and thoughts intentionally, and to associate them with the present. No matter how old or young you are, where you live, and under what circumstances you are living, you can use these thoughts and feelings to motivate you. You can again experience the euphoria and great expectations you had when young, but use them constructively to make them come true. You can use them for motivation, ambition, and for truly improve your life.
You can use your feelings and imagination to improve your life, and about this I have written in my book Visualize and Achieve, with advice, instructions and guidance.
Remez Sasson is an author and blogger. He is the founder of SuccessConsciousness.com, a website and blog about self improvement and spiritual growth.
Remez Sasson is the author of several life transforming books, containing a wealth of information, advice and guidance.
Thanks Remez. I totally agree with you.
Interesting post. It’s intriguing why it can be easier to be nostalgic about the past than fully appreciate the present. Drives me mad though when people focus on how great things used to be in the past when that energy could go into making things better now and in the future!
Hi Hannah,
You are right, people focus on the past when that energy should go into making things better now and in the future.
It is good to learn from every experience, but it is absolutely not necessary to dwell on it. The past does not exist anymore, and the future does not yet exist. There is just the present moment, and therefore one has to focus on it, live it, and use it.
The past is gone, and you cannot change it, but what you do now, at the present moment affects your future.
very interesting and helpfull article. I am very thankful to you that your site helped me to overcome my depression and low selfesteem. The mistake or wrong we did in past can not be undone going into past. Time is irreversible. We can only achieve success making the best use of present moment. The rising of China’s power economicaly and militarily is the best example of using the present moment in its full.
Thanks Remez, great article.
I think by remaining in the present moment we create a sense of freedom because we are no longer clinging onto things we cannot change. By simply accepting and enjoying the present moment, we not only make life more beautiful, but we also create a better future because when it comes it will be the present moment.
The past is history, The future a mystery, This moment is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present..
Hi Remez,
Your article on why the past seem good has truly awakened my way of thinking, and I hope to think better from now on. Thank you for this wonderful article.