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We have all heard the phrases “learn from your mistakes” and “learn from the past.” These phrases would not be commonly used if their meaning did not have any merit. I agree that comprehending the past is crucial to being able to tackle obstacles facing us now and in the future. Looking back at the past prevent you from making the same mistake as others. It is most likely that the choices you are about to make has been made by others before you. By looking at the outcomes of others, you can avoid the possible negative effects of a decision from other’s experience. For example, imagine that you are trying to purchase a new computer. You purchase it without looking at any reviews and when it arrives, you realize that the computer is broken and will not turn on. If you took the time to read the reviews of past buyers who bought the same computer, you could have been deterred to buy the computer because of others who has had the same experiences in the past. Another benefit of looking at the past is to not repeat the same mistake you made previously in the future. By using retrospection we can avoid making the same choices that brought us negative consequences and make choices that will bring us positive benefits. This feature of humans is inherent as this is how young children learn. For example, a young child begs the mother for a toy he wants but the result of it was the mom becoming angry and storming out of the store with him. The child learns from his mistake and stops begging to increase his chance of getting the toy he wants. This shows how looking back to the past can prevent making the same decision in the future. In conclusion, looking to the past can help us make decisions in the present and future that can help us be successful. Without retrospection, we can never improve ourselves. | |
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