Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

The fact that there are "buried" in the unconscious, memories of past failures, unpleasant and painful experi­ences, does not mean that these must be "dug out," ex­posed or examined, in order to effect personality changes. As we have pointed out earlier, all skill learning is accom­plished by trial and error, by making a trial, missing the mark, consciously remembering the degree of error, and making correction on the next trial—until finally a "hit," or successful attempt is accomplished. The successful re­action pattern is then remembered, or recalled, and "imi­tated" on future trials. This is true for a man learning to pitch horseshoes, throw darts, sing, drive a car, play golf, get along socially with other human beings, or any other skill. It is also true of a "mechanical rat," learning its way through a maze. Thus, all servo-mechanisms, by their very nature contain "memories" of past errors, failures, pain­ful and negative experiences. These negative experiences do not inhibit, but contribute to the learning process, as long as they are used properly as "negative feedback data," and are seen as deviations from the positive goal which is desired.
However, as soon as the error has been recognized as such, and correction of course made, it is equally impor­tant that the error be consciously forgotten, and the suc­cessful attempt remembered and "dwelt upon."
These memories of past failures do no harm as long as our conscious thought and attention is focused upon the positive goal to be accomplished. Therefore, it is best to let these sleeping dogs lie.
Our errors, mistakes, failures, and sometimes even our humiliations, were necessary steps in the learning process. However, they were meant to be means to an end—and not an end in themselves. When they have served their purpose, they should be forgotten. If we consciously dwell upon the error, or consciously feel guilty about the error, and keep berating ourselves because of it, then—unwit-tingly—the error or failure itself becomes the "goal" which is consciously held in imagination and memory. The un-happiest of mortals is that man who insists upon reliving the past, over and over in imagination—continually criti­cising himself for past mistakes—continually condemning himself for past sins.