"过去依然是过去"

The main idea is that what happened before is unchangeable. We can't alter past events, no matter how much we might want to. It’s like trying to change the weather from last week – it just doesn’t work. The past is set in stone, and all we can really do is learn from it.

Think about when this idea might come up. Maybe you’re sitting with a friend who's agonizing over a mistake they made. They’re replaying it over and over, wishing they could go back and do things differently. This phrase is a gentle reminder that there’s no magic time machine. Instead of dwelling on what can’t be changed, it’s more productive to focus on what can be done now.

Take a sports example – it’s always vivid and easy to relate to. Picture a basketball player who missed a crucial shot at the end of a game. The player could spend all their time thinking about that missed shot, or they could analyze what went wrong, learn from it, and practice more to improve. If they keep fixating on that one moment, it’s going to mess with their head and affect future games. But if they accept it, learn, and move forward, they’re setting themselves up for future success.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start by recognizing when you’re stuck in the past. Catch yourself when you’re replaying scenarios in your head and ask yourself – is this helping me? If it’s not, consciously shift your focus to the present or future. It’s not about ignoring the past but rather acknowledging it and then letting it go.

To make this more relatable, imagine a scenario with your job. You made a big presentation, and it didn’t go well. You stuttered, missed key points, and your boss wasn’t impressed. Naturally, you feel awful. You keep thinking about all the things you could’ve done differently. This is where “the past remains the past” comes in. Acknowledge that it happened, maybe even write down what you learned from it – but then let it go. Use that energy to prepare better for the next presentation. Maybe practice in front of a friend, or take a public speaking course. Dwelling too much on that bad presentation is only going to keep you stuck, and that’s not what you want.

In the end, it’s all about perspective. Your past is like a book you’ve already read – it’s full of lessons and stories, but you can’t change the words written on the pages. You can, however, decide what you do with the story you’re living right now. And that’s where your power lies. So next time you catch yourself stuck in a loop about something that’s already happened, remind yourself: the past is unchangeable. It’s what you do next that counts.