Memories are powerful forces in our lives. They have the power to cause debilitating fear because of a past experience, and to trigger the release of dopamine in our brains because of a past pleasure. In fact, I dare say that memories are one of the most powerful influences in our lives.
But memories sometimes have a way of being an inaccurate picture of reality. The pleasure of a new life dampens the memory of the pain of childbirth with time (or so I'm told). And the trauma of a bad experience can overshadow the good memories of the same time.
Memories can also be a motivation to help us make better choices. As we think back to the results of poor past choices our memories can be the push we need to choose rightly this time.
Sometimes though, memories can hold us back from growing in our life. They can be an anchor that keeps us tied to the harbor of our past instead of the wind that blows us into a better future. Dreams and aspirations are important to motivate us towards growth, but if we are held back by the significance of our memories of the past we might be robbing ourselves of our future potential.
So let me ask you this: Are your dreams bigger than your memories?
