Can We Learn From Our Mistakes?

Do you learn from your mistakes? Or do you continue making the same mistakes again and again? For example, you may be too trusting, or you may be too cautious. You may have the bad habit of telling total strangers your life story. What lessons have you learnt in life? Have you managed to amend your behaviour after learning a hard lesson?

Do you think the world has learnt anything from its mistakes, or do nations keep on making the same mistakes? Do they learn from history? Recently Poland passed laws denying that it played any part in the Holocaust. Many countries have condemned this, given it is factually hard to prove, but other Eastern European countries have done exactly the same thing. They have denied they were complicit in Nazi war crimes. All atrocities were carried out by Germany – these nations (Hungary, Ukraine and the Baltic states) played no part. France and Israel have condemned this stance. How can we learn from our mistakes if we don’t first own up to our shortcomings? That also applied to countries.

Reasons to study history

Have you ever studied history? Do you think it’s important that we understand where we came from and how we came to be here? Do you think you can understand yourself better if you understand how you were shaped by your past? I believe this. I believe self-insight and self-understanding is essential to self-improvement, and this often comes from understanding and then making peace with our past. The same applies to countries. Germany is an economic powerhouse and has been exceptionally kind to refugees taking in many fleeing the Syrian war, but Germany has also come to terms with its Nazi past. Every German school child must learn about the second world war. There is no denial.  Do you think Australia has properly come to terms with how indigenous Australians were treated?

I think it’s important to learn about history and I encourage you to read widely about Australian and world history. History remains popular for university students. In Australia, overall enrolments in upper level history courses have increased from just over 10,000 in 1995 to well over 24,000 in 2016.

Why is history so important?

As I said before, history is closely tied to identity. Our personality and sense of self often originate in our childhood. To change our outlook, we need to understand our past and deal with it. This is the same for countries. History can serve as the foundation for a sense of nation. Think of all the historical events Australia celebrates – Australia Day, Anzac Day, the Queen’s Birthday. They are all connected to the birth of this nation.

Denying the past

History is usually focused on the facts and historical records, but often people just want an uncomplicated story of their own heritage and they don’t want to hear things that make them ashamed.

But if you keep making the same mistake in life it is vital to stop and ask yourself why. For example, maybe you keep sabotaging yourself at work. After you have lost your seventh good job you may see a counsellor and you might find yourself revisiting your childhood (your personal history). Maybe you will remember how your parents kept telling you that you were hopeless and now you seem determined to fulfil their expectations for being an under-performer. You have come to believe that you are hopeless so you half-intentionally stuff up things at work. Your therapists may advise you to say positive affirmations and write down all your positive traits. You need to learn to respect and love yourself. You have learnt from your personal history and can now avoid making the same mistakes again.

Countries are like people

I think it would be helpful if countries did the same thing. Poland, Hungary and the Ukraine need to accept that some of their nationals were involved in war crimes. If these countries own that, and accept that racism can be toxic then they may not go down the path of bigotry in the future.

Maybe the US should have thought about the Vietnam War before it sent troops to Iraq in 2003. I am not saying countries need to be governed by the past, but they should examine their history just as self-enlightened individuals do.

Economists have learnt from the Great Depression. When times are bad, governments spend more to stimulate the economy. The Great Depression was partially the result of governments cutting spending after the Wall Street crash. Remember, history exists, so we can learn from it.

Studying history is an investment in the future

Why should we learn about history? Primarily, to better understand the present – how did we get here? History gives us a deeper understanding of the complexities of the present.

Another reason I love history is that it is chocked full of fascinating stories. There are stories of courage and brave characters like Winston Churchill who stared down the Germans. There are fantastic love affairs between characters like Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. And there are stories of tragedy like the sinking of the Titanic. History has it all. Historical accounts offer us stories of humility, courage, wisdom, but most importantly hope!

History – personal, national and global history – teaches us to move forward, recognise our mistakes and learn from them, then create a better future. For these reasons, it is vital that we all learn about our personal, national and even world history. Knowing our roots helps us enrich our lives; and without an understanding of history, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes.