Why is it when we look back at the past it seems not so bad now?

Question

when it was bad at the time??

Answer 1

Time alters our perceptions of pain. That is how you can get over the pain and grief of the loss of a loved one. Otherwise we couldn't survive it. Also, with hind sight being 20/20 you can see the consequences of the event and see that most of your perception of the event was caused by fear and worry over the unknown.

Answer 2

I used to work at a fishing lodge in the NWT.
During the winter I would recall the beauty and the fun we had.
But the actual experience included tons of mosquitos, long exhausting days, broken hearts and hangovers etc.

One of the things that makes pain painful is that it is beyond our comprehension. We are vulnerable, uncertain, overwhelmed etc.
It's hard to store that kind of thing.

It's unpleasant enough at the time, so why experience it in memory? It's like when you eat food you don't really like, but you're hungry and there's nothing else around.
Then when you get the food you like, you certainly don't let it sit there and get back to the unyummy stuff.

I think it was Jung who stated that we drag around a big bag of secrets and shadows. We make a lot of pain unconcious and hold it in our bodies. People often end up with physical maladies because of it.

I guess it is also an ego thing. We want to think we were better back then, and will be better than we are now in the future. Because in terms of the past we are able to pick and choose that 'reality', we can choose pleasant.

Ironically, that's the kind of thinking that makes the present seem worse.
It's a habitual thought pattern and emotional experience. Well worn ruts as it were, easy to fall into. Takes the will to work in order to change it.

I expect there are many other reasons as well.

And of course there is the other side.
Where people are completely fuked up because they dwell on hurt and sorrow from the past.

But that's a different story...

Answer 3

.....Because back then, it was a mixed bag...some very bad things, but some positive things, too. The anxiety and grief, etc. from the bad things made it hard to appreciate the good things. Now that the bad feelings are no longer present, you can see these positives more clearly.

Plus the bad feelings have greatly subsided, which is a natural thing once you move on in your life. If you don't feel those bad feelings anymore, the past will not seem so bad now.

Plus, you may have learned from the experience. You now have perspective, which is hard to achieve when things are bad.

Answer 4

Its the opposite for me, I look back at the past and see beauty, and I look around me today and see nothing but greed and mendacity.

I choose to live in the past, because the present is too painful, and I knew that the day I seen George Bush call Greeks Greecians.

Eh, the good old days, Ima wear these rose tinted glasses forever, or else I would not be able to handle the modern world.

Answer 5

Even though the past sometimes is painful, it is what has molded us into the person we are today. Sometimes the things that seem negative at the time, turns into something beautiful. God has perfect timing for everything that happens in our lives......
Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Even though we may not feel at that particular time that what we are going through is for our own good, God knows that it is what we need at that time.

They say "Time heals all wounds" I believe that this is mostly true. But for those things that we just can't seem to let go, turn them over to the Father. He can carry us when we can't seem to walk on our own. Remember, "If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it! "

Psalm 3 4: I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all

Answer 6

I think this is a life lesson. To enjoy where you are when you are there because you will always look back and realize that things weren't as bad as you thought they were. Sometimes I think we get so upset and let things bother us that really aren't going to affect us in our future. Learning this really helps get through the rough times a bit easier. We have to realize that this too shall pass.

Answer 7

It actually was a more difficult time during the depression with Black Tuesday, food coupon rations, bread lines
Time has a way of softening the hard harsh memories of a hardship difficult time

Answer 8

One of the most wonderful things about being human is the ability to overcome obstacles. We feel the pain and it starts to diminish with time. It isn't forgotten but it doesn't have the power to hurt us so much as we continue on with our lives.

Answer 9

This is the "comfort zone" OF objectivity !!
We can sit back and view these things -- as objects -- and as things --- removed to a point of perspective !!
When in the "dialetic" OR involved stage -- we are surrounded by these "things" and entangled in the web of tasks and tribulations of dealing with them !!

It's like a car wreck
it is much easier to see one
than to be involved in one !!!

Answer 10

it's because when you look back you think of the good times, like the old saying goes, ' the good old day's had their bad day's too '