Abstract of talk
“Let go of the past!” This is something we often hear and believe is true. This pop psych claim often assumes that some people are hanged on their past, on some negative past events they have experienced, and that this is what hinders their future. This has led some people to believe that they should not think back to past events and that they should only focus on the future. Not only is this not true, but doing so can be highly harmful to mental health. If lettinggo of the past means accepting that a certain past event is part of our life then this can be helpful. However, if it means denying or avoiding thinking of difficult past events, then it can be harmful. I will explain how reflecting on past events is not only essential, but also a critical process in the development of one’ s identity and future.
Speaker profile: Dr. Frederic Philippe
