It is often said that it is never too late to start again, but this statement has a problem. Normally, these types of positive messages become useful in those moments when our lives go through difficult times, but it is precisely in these situations when we are most reluctant to accept them: pessimism takes over us.
Of course, it is easy to become pessimistic when you look back and think about the time that, from the present, seems to have been wasted. But this feeling doesn’t change the facts: adopting a totally new lifestyle, learning incredible skills or starting exciting relationships is something possible in practically any situation, regardless of age. Let’s see why we know this.
The passage of time not only affects us by making us learn things about the environment; Although we may not realize it, it also causes us to internalize a series of beliefs about who we are and where we are going. In other words, The experience also helps us build a self-concept.
Having a well-established self-concept is very advantageous in many ways. For example, in many cases it allows you to set realistic expectations and not jump into extremely risky situations in relation to how little you can gain from them.
However, this image we have about ourselves can become a prison. And with the simple passage of years we can reach an erroneous conclusion: “if during all this time we have not achieved a certain objective, that means that we are not made to achieve it.” In other words, having more information makes us falsely conclude that we know all our limits.
If something distinguishes us from animals, it is our incredible ability to learn. Although many other species have incredible abilities, they exist because they are burned into their DNA.
Human beings have practically no instincts that condition our behavior in a predictable and stereotyped way, which means that we do not come into the world with this kind of help to adapt to the environment. The good thing about this is that, in the same way that our genetics do not give us special facilities, we have a very wide range of opportunities to learn. And yes, at any age.
The ability to learn is part of the brain
Our learning capacity is part of the normal functioning of the brain, since it works through a mechanism called neuronal plasticity: our neurons constantly change their connectivity patterns, reinforcing certain relationships and weakening others depending on the usefulness of each of these bridges. between nerve cells.
This ability is also reflected in human psychology, for example, allowing us to master skills very well which just a few months ago we did not master at all. Pessimism may make this mental quality go unnoticed, but that does not make it cease to exist. In fact, it is a skill that is preserved even when reaching middle age.
In conclusion
If it is never too late to start again it is precisely because There are no ties with the past that determine what we will be in the future. Neither our genes nor our past history leads us to act “on rails”, following in a straight line the direction in which we arrived to the present.
It is true that the simple fact of being older means that there are certain limits when it comes to delving into the degree of mastery that we can achieve by practicing a new skill, but this is only important if we want to reach elite levels. On the other hand, If what we want to start is, for example, an emotional relationship, this small limitation disappears; There are no “elite” ways to love and relate to loved ones.
In the end, starting over is simply the union of two elements: learning new habits and routines, and a change of scenery related to the physical and social environments through which we move. This is something that is perfectly achievable regardless of the time that has passed since the beginning of our life journey. It is worth taking advantage of this simple fact that allows us to develop our objectives in any direction.
