The longer you live, the richer your matrix gets

Why are we so afraid of repeating ourselves?

Maybe it’s our fear of monotony. The fundamental human craving for novelty.

It could also be our allergy to stagnation and natural inclination for growth.

Or perhaps the terror of being unoriginal? Ain’t nothing scarier than not being special.

Then again, there’s also the anxiety of regret. If we repeat certain actions or choices, we could miss out on trying something different.

The explanation as to why we’re afraid of repeating ourselves is the societal pressures and expectations around striving for new things. No progress means no relevance, which our brains equate to death.

Could this explain why the industries of fashion and computers and home decor and movies cater to this fear by constantly introducing new products?

I’m reminded of a conversation I once eavesdropped on between two students at the fashion institute of technology. One women reminded her friend, wearing an outfit more than once is a fashion crime.

Now, I can’t say that I agree, but I can understand where she’s coming from. My question is, when does repeating ourselves swing over into positive territory? Are there areas of life where we can use repetition to our advantage?

We can and we should. Particularly around the learning process.

As an example, I am a big rereader, rewatcher and relistener. From books to movies to podcasts, I enjoy going back to a thing I once consumed and enjoyed, and queuing it up for another go.

Partly because I’m a huge proponent of optimizing for what is great, not what is new. But the real benefit here is growth. Repetition creates reinforcement of important concepts and ideas. By encountering similar ideas across multiple viewings, I have more opportunities to internalize and absorb the information. Repetition strengthens understanding and retention, making it more likely for me to apply those concepts effectively to my life.

Even if the ideas themselves are repeated, what’s different is me. I am not the same person who consumed that thing the last time, so I can experiencing material with new perspectives and angles. It’s a multifaceted approach that allows for a deeper exploration of ideas.

Repetition encourages me to consider various interpretations and applications that I might have missed on the first or second go around.

Honestly, sometimes I don’t even understand a movie until I’ve watched it a few times. Sometimes I have to do what I call the film sandwich, where I watch the movie, then read reviews and interviews and discussion threads about it, and then go back watch the movie again.

That may sound labor intensive and redundant to some, but to me, it’s exhilarating and makes the insights that much stickier.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
How has repetition served your growth? Are you the kind of person who can do the same thing over and over again, and still gain something new?