Why Do We Keep Repeating the Same Old Patterns?

If history can be believed, humans are definitely creatures of habit.

Photo by History in HD on Unsplash

I’ve been thinking a lot about history lately. That’s not really anything new. Those who know me well know that history is my true passion. No, not my personal history. Real history. History of the world and the history of humanity. I love learning about all the stories that led us where we are today. Every story is its own thread, leading invariably to the “tapestry” we have today.

History has always been a place of joy to me. The stories of Tudor England and Romanov Russia are like the television soap operas to me. These days, though, I look around and remind (through the lens of history) that…well, we haven’t really changed that much. Not as individuals, and not as a species as a whole. History has a funny way of reminding you of that when you dig deep enough. That there’s nothing new under the sun and - despite our claims otherwise - we’re not really as hellbent on change as we claim to be.

History Always Repeats Itself

If you think I’m being cynical, I’m not. In my heart of hearts, my deepest hope for humanity is always the progressive one. The perfect world, to me, is one in which every single person was able to thrive in every sense of the world. A house that they own, big enough for their families, entertaining, and expanding through life. Enough money in the bank to pay all the bills. Healthy food in the fridge, and enough extra capital to enjoy all that this physical world has to offer.

That dream isn’t original. Any peruse through any generation of history would tell you that. Where I lose heart, however, is where I see the worst patterns repeating. The patterns of oppression, manipulation, and ignorance. Patterns that bring out the worst in us, while dividing instead of uniting.

In that way, history is full of repeating patterns. Despite generation after generation claiming it has the superior upper hand, we make the same mistakes, point the same fingers, and get little more out of it than better cellphones and overpriced healthcare.