One of my clients asked me a very interesting question . . . Why is it that animals are able to remember their past lives. but most of us human beings are not able to remember ours?

I wasn’t sure at first if I had an answer to that question, but after I tried writing an answer, I decided that I wanted to share it with all of you. Here’s how I answered it for my client, along with some additions I thought of afterward  . .

Not all animals are able to recall past lives, or to even know if they have a mission in this life. Most of the time, animals who do recall are those we call “old souls.” Some animals might recall a person, or persons, while other might know instinctively what their mission in each lifetime was or is. Newer souls, though, do not know, or understand, the meaning of these questions when they are asked.

Humans don’t usually seem to clearly recall earlier lifetimes either, but children, on the other hand, actually often do recall their past lives. They may vividly remember certain people and events, but this happens only during their younger years. Generally, by the time they go to school, and society starts instilling rules in them about what they can and cannot say, they stop talking about those people and events. Even if they do recall places and people, and talk about them for awhile when they’re young, they eventually lose those memories as they get older.

Sadly, most adults think very young children are just fantasizing when they make comments that reveal information about their past lives, so the adults often miss the opportunity to understand what the child is really trying to share. The best time to listen to what children say, and to ask some follow-up questions, may be when the child is between the ages of 2 and 5.

I think, though, that we all remember bits and pieces, and then we try to piece all of those things together so they’ll make sense to us. Consider moments of deja-vu, when you seem to re-live a moment, or it seems as if you’ve been there before, or seen something before, or heard something before. Where do some of those memories come from, if not possibly from past lives?

When it comes to a person’s life mission, I believe that most thoughtful people know, or eventually discover, what they’re supposed to do in this or any other lifetime. Their hearts always tell them, if they’ll only listen.

One problem is, not everyone is able to fulfill their mission, even if they know what it should be. Society, limited income, family, or a multitude of responsibilities sometimes won’t let you fully follow your heart’s desire in this lifetime.

Or . . . you may choose
not
to listen to your heart, and to follow an entirely different path instead.

Those are both reasons why we have more than one opportunity, more than one lifetime, in which to fulfill our mission in life, or to learn the lessons we need to learn.

Some people may live many lifetimes of continuously doing good for other people, while some people may have treated others in a hurtful way in past lifetimes.

If . . . in between lives on earth . . . those people have come to realize that what they did previously was wrong, they may now choose to make up for that negative behavior by turning their actions totally around in this lifetime . . . that’s what we call “learning the lesson.”

So, it’s true that our current life’s mission can be intricately defined by things we have done in our past lives. We may not clearly recall those past lives, but we do have a sense of what it is we are supposed to do now. Our lesson in each lifetime is to be good, to do good, to experience life to the fullest, and to be able to receive here and now. The more one gives, the more one receives.

The Universe has a plan, but we have the freedom to make choices within that plan. Our job is to listen to . . . and to follow . . . our hearts.

Those who do follow their hearts, don’t do it for power, or financial gain, but simply because it makes them feel good. This is true for those who might become doctors, nurses, teachers, caregivers, clergy members, or who find other special ways to help people in need. This would include good-hearted individuals who travel to other countries to help native peoples have a clean water supply, to help them build houses, or show them how to start businesses, etc.

For those who can’t do something exceptional, they may still discover a multitude of ordinary ways to help in everyday life. For example, they may offer to let someone in the grocery line go ahead of them, or give an exceptionally good tip to a waitress, or pay for someone else’s meal, or make a donation to help build homes for the disadvantaged, or to feed those on a limited income, or who are out of work.

There are absolutely endless ways people can find to be helpful and to do good. Even the smallest of ways can touch the hearts and lives of many others in addition to the person or persons directly being helped. The good effect of a small kindness is often much, much bigger, and far more extensive, than we will ever know in this lifetime.

Anyway, that’s my take on it. Hope this helps.