Member-only story
Why We Repeat Mistakes
We’ve all been there, stuck in a loop of errors, seemingly unable to learn from our past. It’s like a song on repeat where the melody of mistakes doesn’t seem to end. This common human experience begs the question: Why do I fall for the same tricks again and again?
The answer lies deep within our psychological wiring. As creatures of habit, our brains are designed to seek out patterns and follow them — a strategy that usually serves us well, but not always. When we’re faced with familiar situations, our default is often to act in ways we have before, even if those actions didn’t serve us well. This autopilot mode saves us energy but can cost us dearly in life lessons.
Statistics reveal this tendency in stark numbers. A study by Betsafe showed that 80% of gamblers knew they were likely to lose, yet they gambled anyway, drawn by the familiarity and the adrenaline rush of the game. It’s a powerful demonstration of our propensity to engage with known risks, even when logic dictates otherwise.
The tales of history are littered with anecdotes of people making the same mistakes. Take, for example, Napoleon and Hitler, both of whom underestimated the Russian winter in their invasions, leading to devastating defeats. While we may not be commanding armies, our daily…
