I've had fantasies about going back and talking to my younger self. One of the things I regret that I was going to counsel younger me on was the lack of confidence with women. I had several attractions over the years that I did not act on, and older me always thought younger me was a bit of a coward and should have stepped up more often. Carpe diem, what's to lose?
Now I'm newly single again, and find myself in the same position. If I see someone that I'm interested in, I immediately think of all the reasons why this can't happen and I leave it as a mental exercise, without ever approaching someone. So it's easy to intellectualize a needed action or position, it's just hard to live it.
So I was thinking about the old adage that those that are ignorant of history are bound to repeat it. What about the inverse corollary? Those that know history too damned well may still be stuck repeating it?
I've heard speculation by neurologists that lead you to believe that we can't really change our nature, that in some ways we don't have control of ourselves. It's depressing to think about, because we assume with a little counselling or training that we could become whatever we want to do. That we could break bad habits or addictions if we chose to.
I can see how this happens at the unit level in military conflicts. If you're scared, you can't understand that the situation requires courage and just conjure some up. What about politics? You might be faced with undeniable truths, but still unable to accept new policies, or enact new laws, or embrace new candidates that are better suited to address those truths. What about economics and business? You might see a technology or business model dying, but find yourself unable to let go of the old ways.
So, is it hopeless? Are we trapped in ourselves and unable to change, even it it's to improve? Maybe just being aware of the resistance is the way to overcome it.
