The relevance of the past to decision-making depends on the situation, but generally, the past and present are different. What was effective in the past may not be so now, so relying on past experiences for important decisions could lead to failure. Take marriage, for instance. Today's marriages differ significantly from those fifty years ago, with shared home responsibilities, both partners working, different hobbies, and shared parenting roles. Entering a marriage with a 1950s mindset today would be a surprise. Times have changed, so a modern approach is necessary.

Some people believe it’s wrong to let the past influence their decisions primarily because of the fear of repeating past mistakes. They worry that relying too heavily on past experiences might lead them to make the same errors again. Additionally, there's a concern that the past may not accurately reflect the current realities. Situations, contexts, and even people change over time, so decisions based on past circumstances might not be relevant or effective in the present.