Historic Memory: Psychological-Historic Term used to explain why we often do what we do.
Example: A Child is bullied for most of their youth. Dealing with this leads the Child to affirm that they will never be bullied again. They harden, isolate themselves, and become bullies themselves.
My mother is like an elephant, if I can use a bit of terminology you all know… an elephant never forgets. If someone looked at her 20 years ago or said something that offended her she will carry the emotions and protective responses to that event with her forever.
Jewish people were oppressed through social and governmental pogroms and the holocaust. Millions died at the hands of their neighbors, also losing their homes, property, and livelihoods. Traveling the world, a Zionist Movement brought them to their ancestral homeland Israel. Their historical memories demanded of them that oppression, hatred, and aggression from others would never happen again. Hamas’s attack upon Israel will not stand, and Hamas, the Palestinian-Arab World will see that Israel’s aggressive nature will seek out justice and retribution upon all aggressors.
If someone has ever done something that offended, harmed, or disappointed you, that memory will remain with you forever. You can forgive the aggressor, but the normal emotional, physical, and mental responses to that event will often shape your behavior, your personality, and how you relate to others. Akira Kurosawa said, “It is the power of memories that gives rise to the power of imagination”. If you have many pleasant or bad memories, it will affect you, mold, and vitalize your being. You can change that which energizes your actions in life. “Take care of all your memories, for you cannot relieve them”(Bob Dylan). Know yourself.
Know yourself, as an observer, self self-diagnosis technician seeking out why you did what you did in the past, present, and possible future. We can slow down, sit back think, meditate, observe, and chronicle ourselves and others. This can be difficult since many of us want to concentrate on our needs, desires, and actions without knowing the reasons for these moments in our lives.
Talk to someone who will be patient, observant, and a good listener, open mind and a nonjudgmental attitude.
Think about your past, and present actions and why you do what you do.
Realize all outside influences that affect your actions and thoughts.
The Truth will set you free, really.
Many people prefer fooling themselves instead of doing the work necessary to know, evaluate, and change themselves.
All the horrors of the day, the Gaza-Hamas-Israeli conflict, hatred of those who are different, bullying the weak, hate speech, Russo-Ukrainian Conflict, China’s desire to annex Taiwan, the Rwanda massacres, terrorism, criminality, and mental illness have roots in historic memory. The reason you developed particular routines, and methodologies of living your lives has roots in historical memory.
Sometimes a person needs help to become free from these memories. Imagine an Aboriginal Person with feelings of inferiority, helplessness, lack of personal direction, and addiction to something. What historic memories shaped them, and what is forcing them to attempt to hide themselves in their addictions? Well, Aboriginals have lived on the fringe of society, hidden away from the greater community, controlled and managed by governments. They may have experienced incest, abuse, taken for granted, addiction. All this can transform someone, making them weaker, fatalistic, hopeless, and fearful.
We all need assistance once in our lives, someone who can act like a mirror, reflecting what we may truly be, not seeing our self-built persona, but our true selves. Search out a professional, friend, or family member, and feel free to open up, and speak your mind while always accepting suggestions, points of view, and observations from someone else. Never hide or be judgmental, but venture towards self-realization with the help of another.
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
skaszab@yahoo.ca
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