Is our present decided by the past? Or is our perception of the past decided by the present.

What do you think? Are we where we are because of our past? Or is our past a perception we create in the present?

That’s a really good question.

I think it’s generally thought that the past is the cause and the present is the effect.

But let’s think about this

How much of the past are we consciously aware of at any given time?

We accumulate memories as we journey through our lives and our brain catalogues and stores them.

Our present thoughts and emotional state decide how we experience life in the present.

But it also strongly influences our viewpoint, or perception of the past.

And….

The present thoughts and emotions will also have an effect on the future by dictating actions in the present. The present being the cause the future being the effect.

From birth to 18 we have lived 157,680 hours. That’s a lot of experience. You probably remember a handful of significant events at any one time. The remembered events will mirror your current state of mind.

For example. Someone screws you over. You feel like crap about it. You then recall all previous times that you’ve been screwed over in your life. You conclude your life is crap, you’re a piece a shit and everyone walks all over you. Your past confirms your present as well as your present confirming your past, and leads to actions that will effect your future.

Or, you’re out with friends, you’re in a good mood, and conversation flows towards nostalgic happy childhood and adolescent memories. Anecdotes are shared, and you’re mind is flooded with a stream of positive events of the past, and you conclude life has been good to you and you wouldn’t want to change a thing. Again, the present is deciding the viewpoint of the past.

So, what you’re saying is…. The past, the cause, creates the effect, the present. But the present can also be the cause that changes the viewpoint of the past, the effect?

Yes…pretty much, I think it makes your realise the importance of now, because now is the only thing that is real, it’s the only time can effect the immediate, the past and the future. I think it’s worth remembering that.

That’s what the Sharmanator Thinks

Look forward to reading your comments.