Why Does Retrospect Always Comes At The End
Posted: Saturday, July 18, 2009
by Susan Thom
If we only knew the correct ways of thinking and acting before we "do it our way" and make mistakes, I guess we'd be ready for Heaven. It awaits us, but only after we figure out how to think, act and react in the best way for all involved. We begin a journey when we are born, and it lasts until we die. And possibly, even after that.
It appears life is one big test, a special type of school in which we decide for ourselves what we think is right and wrong. Usually, we've been guided by parental figures and mentors, family, friends and our faith. But do we always listen? Or do we believe we have found a softer, easier way? So often, we make a choice and later find it to be the wrong one.
Contemplating the past, and thinking about how we could have acted or thought differently, and committing to trying to improve, is using retrospection in the right way. We often go through feelings of guilt, shame, and anger for the way we've behaved, but that retrospective time can do wonders, and set us on a more positive and enlightening path.
Once we have enough examples of "retrospection" on things we've done, and how to handle those situations in a better way, we can improve on ourselves, and live happier, less dramatic lives. We can also use memories of past situations, to allow us to handle new problems in a more peaceful and rewarding way.
If life is a test, and a journey of education, then we must be up for the challenge. We can all change for the better, if we are willing. It's always in our own hands, and our own minds. If we swear too much in front of the kids, we can stop. If we yell about every little thing, we can stop. If we lack patience, we can work to attain it.
There's always something WE can do to improve ourselves, and move smoothly through our journey while we're here on Earth. We're never going to be perfect; progress not perfection. At least we will know we are trying to do good, not nasty, bad, and evil things. They will get us nowhere but to a fiery end. Life is work, it doesn't just happen, we have to participate and make it happen.
We have to strive so that there are less "retrospect's" and more "jobs well done." If we're learning, there should be less mistakes, and more honest, happy living. If we don't learn, history will invariably repeat itself. If we fail at something because we didn't put any effort into it, or strength, or commitment, then the chances of failure are high for the future, unless we make some changes.
Pondering on our past experiences, and how they turned out, and what our part was in each one, should be able to guide us to a better way. R remember what you and others felt like when a situation happened that could have been avoided. E elect yourself to be your own mentor, guardsman of your mouth, keeper of your heart, and executor of your mind. T touch the sky with your imagination and know that you can and will make a difference.
R ride on the wind and realize you are a child of the universe, and everything around you was put there for your enjoyment. O only use the past to help you learn. Don't live in it, grieve over it, or wonder "what if?" today is all we have, and we need to remember that. S save the good memories, and once you've acknowledged your part and figured out you can do things differently, throw out the old, negative memories.
P ponder closely on who you really are, and make sure it lines up to who the world thinks you are. E examine your motives, and if they are not what you believe your God would approve of, don't do what you are planning. C compact your thoughts to hold only those who help you in life, none that hinder your progress and make you unhappy. T thank God that you could have a revelation that there are things you can do to make your life run more smoothly, and in a more excited atmosphere.
Retrospect may come at the end, but it can be the beginning of a bright new change, if we want to take the time to explore the great strides we can make, if we just make the effort to learn from our mistakes, and then, let them go.
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)Hi Sue, well said. This is a great way to look at "retrospect" Of Course you know this means it actually comes at the beginning. :-)Please log in to respond to this comment.hi t,i wasn't looking at it like that, but you're right.thinking about it starts at the beginning.whether at the beginning or the end, retrospection is a great tool to help us learn what NOT to do again, and how to instead, do it in a better way.thanks for reading and commenting,always appreciated,my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Good article Susan Yes I believe we must not dwell on the past but rather learn from it and look to the future with and optimistic approach. thanks for sharingPlease log in to respond to this comment.hi david,welcome backwe missed you!thank you for reading and commenting.maybe the first half of life is doing things to have a retrospective point of reference, and the second half, is doing things differently because of it.my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Ah, there's the rub- letting go. That has to be the hardest part. If we could "let it go," most of our problems would vanish. But we are afraid to, or maybe we feel we can do a better job than God.Great article, Sue.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi ken,
thanks for reading and commenting.
maybe we feel some security in our own chaos, especially if we're used to it, and holding on gives us a sense of security.we feel comfortable in our own suffering. change is what makes us uneasy.but if we trust in ourselves, and the ability to change for the better, we can live calmer, more peaceful and productive lives.my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
" If we don't learn, history will invariably repeat itself." Sue you are so correct...Many, many are so affraid and wish to remain in the past. Thanks SuePlease log in to respond to this comment.hi dr. c,thanks for reading and commenting.the past is gone a second after it happens; i think we should take from it what we can to make our future more peaceful and productive, and throw out all the other garbage.i can't go back and take away anything that happened in the past, but i can make the present and future better!the past is like a learning tool, a book that needs to be absorbed, thought about, and acted on, and then, close the darn cover and get rid of the words we don't need cluttering our minds.i'm glad you stopped by,my best regards,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Well said. Many times I wish retrospect would come before the end, yet I guess that's how I learn. Sometimes it's painful, but always there's a lesson there.Nice article.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi michael,even better-wouldn't it be great if we could learn from other's retrospects? :)when we're little, we could watch others, and if they get hurt, we don't do what they do!but alas, the lessons are ours to learn on our own, for our own particular life patterns.the key is to learn Quickly :)thanks for reading and commenting,my best regards,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Hi, Sue, Another well put together article! It keeps moving and is full of wisdom, generosity, calmness, and good advice. Thanks for writing this!Please log in to respond to this comment.
hi jean/jane,thank you for your kind comments and for reading this article.i'm glad you seemed to have gotten something positive from it.my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Hi Sue.I think how you broke down "r-e-t-r-o-s-p-e-c-t" is great. I enjoyed your entire article. Thank you.Hugs,DiannePlease log in to respond to this comment.hi dianne,thank you for reading and commenting.i'm glad you liked the retrospect break down; sometimes, most times, these things just pour out without thinking.i'm glad you enjoyed it,my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
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