Yes, We Can Change the Past!


May 11, 2014


In every book we read, every conversation we hear, every advice we give; we can read, hear about one very common statement; “we can’t change the past, forget about it and concentrate on the future”. Is it really so? What exactly are we referring to? Can’t we change the past? It is true that we can’t literally land into the past day or date. But how about past setbacks, past dreams, past unpleasant incidents, past life?

A few days back when I was doing my evening walk I met a person from my native place. As discussion went on he said, he came to the Gulf with just PUC education. He struggled, but he studied while working and went on climbing the corporate ladder. Today he is a well settled man with sound financial gains; more over, a satisfied person in every walk of life. He also helped many people by bringing them to the Gulf and brightening their future. He said this gives him immense satisfaction than anything else. 

Let us think about this person. When he came to the Gulf he did not have much education though he was intelligent. When he studied further here in the Gulf he rectified his past, of less education. When he climbed the corporate ladder, he rectified his past of being a humble beginner. When he made money by working hard, he rectified his past of financial struggles that made him discontinue studies and land in the Gulf. When he brought many people to the Gulf he effectively brought happiness to hundreds of lives which he could not do in the past. Effectively what did he do? He rectified his moderate past into a successful present. We generally hear and advice, to forget about the past. But this gentleman got motivation from his past, rectified it and became a role model for others. 

What is this past? Is it about yesterday's date? Or an action? Or a thought? Or all these three put together? Or much more than this? When does an action, an incident, a thought or a date becomes past? At midnight? When an action of ours is wrong, we generally come to know about it almost immediately. Generally we adopt a laid back approach and allow it to become a part of our past. If we had rectified the mistake then itself we could have effectively avoid it being an act of the past, and by doing this we are rectifying our would be past itself. Is this not about rectifying the past? In one way it is the Only thing is we are doing in the present itself .By avoiding a wrong act carrying on and not allowing it to become a part of our past I believe we are rectifying the past itself. 

What happens when the minute pointer in the clock is reversed (anti clockwise direction); let us say 9 am to 8 am? The hour pointer also changes its position accordingly, automtacally. So I think when we rectify an act of yesterday's, today we are effectively in yesterday itself. Just like the hour pointer re-adjusts its position following the minute pointer displacement, when we rectify a past thing in the present our subconscious mind effectively enters the past and retracts the memory of the past and travels back to present. Notice our daily routine work - what we do differently than previous day and how much. I am sure 99% is copy of yesterday’s routine work; only date and day has changed. Rest all things generally are same. Now forget a while about the date and day and think where we are; whether in the past or present or future as per our actions and results are concerned. We may feel it could be all the three possibilities, being in the past present and future, at a time!! Now tell me friends, can't we change the past?

Most of us regret losing our childhood days. Because those are golden moments. But no one puts any effort to bring back some important childhood moments which may be reproduced anytime at home. Surprised? Want to give a try? Want to re-kindle those past loving moments? When you go home today in the evening just keep your laptop aside and be a laptop on your moms tender lap. Rest your head on her lap and give her a loving hug and see the magic for yourself. You know friends, our aged mother / parents are eagerly waiting for one such moment from us. Don’t waste time, may be this could be your one last opportunity to become a child again before the curtain falls on them. So be quick and experience that childhood with your mother / parents again.

There is no point in just regretting about the past and doing nothing about it; just because every one says it is not possible. Question it and give a try. If you can’t rectify it, try replacing it. Gently act on it and you will realize it is possible to rectify the past, provided you see through the window of opportunity and build on it. When I was studying psychology, jokingly I asked my professor Dr Joseph Alexander “What is Psychology?” He was also equally humorous in his answer "thinking in the reverse direction, from a layman’s point of view". It is possible to re-write the past. In fact in a much better way than we would have done it in the past.

What inference can we draw from this? Though we cannot bring back the date and time, for most of the things in life we can land in the past, re-write and come back to present; and look forward into the future positively. There is no need to bring back the time if we use the present and future fruitfully.
I hope no one regret about the past now on. It is because whatever decision we made at that point of time, it was the best decision under the circumstance we were in. One of the famous phrases says every act carries a positive intention with it. So friends, stop regretting; replace the word “Regret” in your dictionary with “Rectify” and “Replace “. Recreate your lost self .You may use this mathematical formula;

Regret-- (Rectify+Replace) = Recreate.

In this article I have made an attempt to think differently than what we generally believe. This can be better explained in a class room setting the way I do in my NLP trainings since the space is limited over here. If “faith can move mountains”, if we have the determination to succeed, we can rectify the past also. Kindly give a try; good luck to everyone.



Vincent D'Sa Archives:



By Vincent D'Sa, Muscat / Shankerpura
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Comment on this article

  • Martin White, Australia

    Fri, Dec 04 2015

    I know it is true that you can't change your past but I can't get over my past as it has physically and mentally affected my past. It has I affected every area of my life. I have not life anymore. I have lost the past 5 years of my life because of this and I want it back.

  • Ravindra, Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 20 2015

    Good Article Vinc...I had the good fortune of reading your article... It was well-written and contained sound, practical advice. You pointed out the role of HR department in any organisation.... I look forward to reading your next informative work. Thank you.

  • HILDA PINTO, KOWDOOR/MUMBAI

    Sat, May 17 2014

    What about gud past, I like my past very much, since I learned a lot from it & like to see back again just not to repeat the same mistake.

  • John DSouza, Mangalore

    Thu, May 15 2014

    Yes, if we wish to change, our faith makes it to happen
    When two or three get together to pray, God joins them
    As we can create nothing, our option is only to change
    So let us review, rectify, replace, recreate and rejoice

  • swathi , mangalore

    Wed, May 14 2014

    yes of course,faith can move mountains..i completely agree with it.the only way to lead a happy and successful life is to think positive every day.have faith and believe in yourself.. wonderful article.

  • Priya Das, Karkala / Mumbai

    Wed, May 14 2014

    Very meaningful and nice article, dear Vincent. Keep writing. God bless you.

  • Robert George, Mangalore/US

    Wed, May 14 2014

    Human life is limited by time and space. Often, most of us wish we could relive happy moments of the past. Probably, we can, as suggested by Mr. Vincent D’sa, recreate some past moments, though the place and circumstances may be different. Such acts of recreation can provide momentary happiness. But as the Apostle Paul points out: “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,” (Phil 3:13), that is, looking forward with hope and faith would be the ideal way to live. However, I compliment Mr. D’Sa for his thought-provoking article.

  • John DSouza, Mangalore

    Wed, May 14 2014

    If we can Change the Past, why are we so stubborn, reluctant, static, unmindful and sticky?

    Why we lavishly spend on fuel to burn the economy and spoil peace?
    Why we blindly pay to suffer health hazardous pollutions and mounting costs?
    Why we carry and move the burden instead of making it to move like free flowing water?
    Why we start from a standstill position, pull and move till destination with the fuel force?
    Why we need to suffer with the tortoise style, being on a lengthy evolution?
    Why we use expensive for force, while the natural force is free, abundant and 24x7?
    Why we deny the pleasure of a silent, fresh, clean and peaceful environment?

  • julie, oman

    Tue, May 13 2014

    Good article Vincent, Keep it up. makes sense just that one has to make an effort and many of us lack that i guess. however it inspires one to try and change the past.

    well done

  • John DSouza, Mangalore

    Tue, May 13 2014

    Yes, we can Change the Past with so many options, opportunities and tools.

    Review, Realize, Regret, Repent, Revise, Rewind, Revisit, Regain, Repair, Renovate, Re-engineer, Reinvent, Redistribute, Rejoin, Recollect, Reassess, Replace, Reverse, Replenish, Rearrange, Reorder, Restructure, Reform, Reveal, Reshuffle, Repay, Recycle, Reuse, Reduce, Remember, Reunite, Reconcile, Return, Relate, Release, Restrict, Relieve, Reshape, Reconstruct, Revolt, Refuse, Renew, Reappear, Retry, Repeat, Rebuild, Re-install, Revalue, Reevaluate, Reimburse, Replay, Retrieve, Rewrite, Rethink, Revoke, Rectify, Restore, Reproduce, Retreat, Recreate and Reborn.

  • Flavia Menezes, Shankerpura

    Tue, May 13 2014

    Good article Vincy. Keep writing.

  • Anil Pernal, Muscat

    Mon, May 12 2014

    Loved this article which gives a different perspective to the past subject.The example you have given of the clock pointer is worth thinking about....interesting article with an untouched subject...very well written...Would love to read more from you Mr. Vincent D`sa, Pangla...Keep writing.

  • Lucy Rodrigues, Moodubelle/Mumbai

    Mon, May 12 2014

    Very meaningful article and I loved it. Keep writing. God bless you.

  • Sandesh, Mangalore\Bangalore

    Mon, May 12 2014

    Dear Vincent D'Sa sir,
    This is one the motivating article with different thoughts.
    I have really inspired by thoughts which you have shared here.
    You have explained very effectively how one can recreate him/herself.

  • John DSouza, Mangalore

    Mon, May 12 2014

    Dear Vincent D'Sa Sir, the possibility to regret, replace and recreate is only with the identification of error, understanding of mistake and acknowledgment of the wrong decision.
    Otherwise the wrongs or errors will carry forward and pull on for ages, by silently facing the evil and serious consequences.
    For instance, instead of using the latest technology merely for efficiency purpose, if we rectify a past error, we can see a wonder with amazing benefits. A concept change is an option and opportunity to the automakers to be the leader of a rapid revolution in the surface transport sector.
    Perhaps, it was the best decision under the circumstance prevailing during the introduction of the vehicle engine to keep the bull (the engine) on wheels and use both the bull and cart together as a joint piece on wheels (the vehicle). In fact, it was a silly error at that time but has resulted in serious consequences and severe problems in the surface transport sector.
    Along with the application of modern technology, if we adopt a simple concept of pull and move, (instead of carry and move), we can save a huge volume of fuel, eliminate pollution, reduce costs, start development projects, create enormous job opportunities, reduce poverty, have a surplus balance and comfortable FEX reserves.
    Change the Past makes an individual successful and Change Concept results in a revolution.
    Yes, we can Change the Past, if we realize the wrongs and feel the need to overcome the adversities.

  • Priyanka Dsouza, Pangla/Muscat

    Mon, May 12 2014

    Nice write up uncle Vincy.
    Truly motivational article to those who have the desire to come up, move forward and change the past. I would say one has to have the strong will and courage to ignore the society to use your formula.
    Keep writing more...........Liked your formula. Nothing is impossible when i live my life for myself.

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Mon, May 12 2014

    Very Very meaningful Vincent D'sa Sir. Most think about lost childhood and all that...I agree. I have had a wonderful childhood. However could not love many the way I wanted to.Now I am busy changing my past. Your article has given me all the more impetus and spirit to change it further.Love your way of writing and explaining things in a simple manner.Helps many go up the ladder feeling stronger and more effective.
    Sincere Regards.

  • Manesh Menezes, Bahrain

    Mon, May 12 2014

    All the best Vincy for your NLP classes, great article !

  • Stany Jovin Menezes, Pangla / Oman

    Mon, May 12 2014

    Nice Article ! Nothing is impossible !!! . Really well written

  • Samuel Martis, Mumbai

    Sun, May 11 2014

    Good article Vincy. You have successfully explained how to think differently.

    I liked your new mantra : Regret - rectify replace - recreate

    Keep writing

    Samuel Martis

  • Austin Kiran Dsouza, Bantwal

    Sun, May 11 2014

    Great Article and I loved to read this, I remembered the quotation about where there is will there is a way.
    Vincent D'Sa -Keep on writing some interesting articles.

  • PPP, Kadri

    Sun, May 11 2014

    Nice.. next please write an article on how to not be lazy or disinterested please!

  • John DSouza, Mangalore

    Sun, May 11 2014

    Yes, we can change the past by rectifying errors and weaknesses, but not the history
    Regret (Rectify Replace) = Recreate, is an excellent formula, advice and solution.
    Can we look at an old and silly error by which we have been struggling and suffering severely?
    Do you believe that fuel energy made to keep both bull and cart on wheels, instead of merely replacing the bull with vehicle engine?
    Do you believe that our huge funds and resources are being sucked by fuel, injuring the health of people and economy, due to unhealthy pollutions, mounting transport costs and high prices of basic goods and facilities?
    Are we proud to have 13 cities out of 20 most polluted cities in the world?
    Are we ready for a simple concept change which can multiply the capacities of vehicles, save huge volume of fuel and reduce costs of production, running and maintenance of vehicles?
    Do you wish to be the first country to make a revolutionary change in the surface transport sector?
    If faith can move mountains, why not we can handle and manage the falling weight of mountains, instead of carrying and moving the burden as infants?

  • Dinesh K. Sherigar, Belman / Milan

    Sun, May 11 2014

    Good Article for sure for to try and succeed. I am serious, not joking.... Recently I read Sunny Leone saying that " I can not erase my past and not realistic to change my past to future" I hope Sunny might be able to slow down her past while she reaches around 60 years old. This is only my guess even she might move beyond 70.. Some are embroidered deep in self destruction one after another Difficult/Ridiculous to change the past yet some might be able to succeed.. Good hypothesis sir !!


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