We all have past experiences we would rather forget and have derived many ways of doing so. Some seek psychiatric help. Others “blank” such experience out. Still others “reshape the original” reality into something more palatable and less painful. The most common approach we have been taught is to “learn” from the experience, let it go and move on. I think I have tried them all. Much of my childhood and months of my Viet Nam combat experience is blank. Both contained very painful experiences I strived to forget. A few years ago, I decided to try something different.
The human mind is “wired” to forget pain. A few years ago, I had a very serious motorcycle accident and nearly died. I can recall the incident in minute detail . . . except for the pain. Sure, I am aware there was intense pain but that realization is not nearly as clear as the other details, which are still as clear as crystal.
The fact is that every experience, good or bad, contains lessons. For example, from my motorcycle accident, I certainly learned the benefit of wearing a helmet! The question is, why would we want to revisit them? Ah! This is one of the keys I have discovered through Transformational Thinking to expanding awareness, and this is what I want to share with you in this article.
Usually, when we revisit (remember) an experience, we tend to do so with our perception of that time, like an old tape replaying. A few years ago, I began to wonder what it would it would be like if I revisited past experiences, good or bad, with today’s perception and began to do so with incredible results. In fact, I am beginning to understand that this is the key to the door leading from knowledge and experience to wisdom.
We are able to “see” details that were always there but that we were simply unable to focus upon at the time because of our mind focusing only on those factors centered upon survival or pleasure. In other words, we are able to expand our consciousness of the event when we look at it with our current perception.
The first thing to consider is that, no matter how painful the experience was, it is over. We are impervious to further pain! That takes care of the fear factor, often a difficult barrier to get through. Once past that, we can now look around and “notice” all the other things that were happening at the time and such an experience has always been rewarding for me ever since I began applying this technique. It is, I suppose, very similar to what some describe as an out-of body or near-death experience. Through emotional non-attachment, we can find much to learn from the original experience we may have missed on the first time through.
Many claim that we should focus on the future rather than the past. I disagree for a good reason. In order to create a better future, we must understand the present and, in order to do that, we need to know how we got here from there. We need to develop our minds to clearly focus on all three: the past, present and future, in order to become more adaptable and successful. It is only through this expansion of awareness that we can grow.
Let me put it into perspective. I lived much of my life with anger and that limited my ability to expand my perception. Every time I revisited an “bad” experience of the past, I did so with that anger. Later on in life, I was able to remove that element of anger but it was a while before I decided to revisit those events or experiences. When I did, I had a totally different outlook! I was also able to learn so much more that I had missed during the original happening.
Although this may be a difficult concept for some, consider the following: As I revisit an old experience with new perception, I change the original event because I change the actual experience (or at least my perception of it). Now, I proceed to the next event with that changed perception and the result is equally or more so different. We are talking about expanding one’s life experience here and nothing less. Think about what that means!
That is precisely what I have done and, the more I do it, the greater the parameters of my perception expands. Every revisit is more expanding. It is a spiraling cycle achieved with nothing more than the mind. It is something we are all capable of doing.
If you really want to improve your life, this is a great starting point. Can we really change the past? No, but we can change or expand our perception of it. You have that power right now. Start right now. Pick an experience and relive it, not with the intention of re-experiencing what you did then, but with what you know now. Look at it with the purpose of discovering all the learning points you lay have missed the first time through. Do so without fear or anger, but with love and a desire to learn more. You will be amazed at the results.
The past, present and future are all interconnected. They are not the linear journey we have all been taught to accept. Learning is not a one-time event. Not if you learn ow to revisit the path with your current perception to create a better future and realize that will be a different experience every time you do. It will change you current perception and the cycle simply continues to expand into true awareness and wisdom.
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