How to Stop Repeating the Same Mistakes

You promise yourself you won't do it again.

You mean it. You're determined. This time will be different.

Then—without even realizing it—you do the exact same thing again. You pick the same type of toxic partner. You make the same financial mistake. You react the same way in the same situation.

And you think, "Why do I keep doing this? I know better."

If this sounds familiar, you're experiencing one of the most frustrating effects of the reactive mind: compulsive repetition of painful patterns.

The Pattern That Won't Break

Repeating mistakes shows up in countless ways:

• You keep choosing partners who treat you badly, even though you swore you'd never date someone like that again
• You make the same financial mistakes—overspending, bad investments, impulsive purchases—despite promising yourself you'd be more careful
• You react with anger or defensiveness in situations where you know it will make things worse
• You sabotage opportunities the same way every time, even when you're aware of the pattern
• You fall back into the same bad habits—smoking, drinking, overeating—no matter how many times you quit

Every time, you tell yourself it will be different. Every time, it's not.

Why You Can't Stop

Here's what most people don't understand: repeating mistakes isn't a choice. It's your reactive mind running a program.

Your reactive mind stores every painful experience as an engram—a mental recording that includes all the sights, sounds, emotions, and physical sensations from that moment.

When something in your present environment resembles that past pain, the engram activates. And when it does, it forces you to repeat the same behavior—even when you consciously know it's wrong.

You don't think, "I'm going to make the same mistake again." You just suddenly feel compelled to do it. The reactive mind takes over, and your rational mind can't stop it.

The South African Experience

In South Africa, many of us carry engrams that drive repeating patterns:

• Relationship patterns: "My father was abusive, and now I keep choosing abusive partners"
• Financial patterns: "We lost everything during economic instability, and now I can't hold onto money"
• Defensive patterns: "I had to fight to survive growing up, and now I react with aggression even when it's not necessary"
• Self-sabotage patterns: "Every time I succeeded, something bad happened, so now I destroy my own success"

These engrams can drive the same mistakes for decades—even when you're fully aware of the pattern and desperate to change.

Why Willpower Doesn't Work

You can't willpower your way out of a reactive mind pattern.

The engram is stronger than your conscious decision-making. It's a survival mechanism—your reactive mind thinks it's protecting you by forcing you to repeat the "safe" behavior, even when that behavior is harmful.

That's why:

• You can't "just stop" choosing the wrong partners
• You can't "just be more careful" with money
• You can't "just control your temper"
• You can't "just break the habit"

The engram has to be found and erased. Otherwise, it will keep running the same program forever.

How to Actually Stop

The solution is Dianetics.

Dianetics provides the exact process to:

1. Locate the engram driving the repeating mistake
2. Process the painful experience so it loses its power over you
3. Erase the engram so the compulsive pattern stops

Once the engram is gone, the mistake stops repeating. Not because you're "trying harder," but because the root cause is gone.

What Happens When You Break Free

Imagine:

• Choosing healthy relationships instead of repeating the same toxic pattern
• Making smart financial decisions without the compulsion to sabotage yourself
• Responding calmly and rationally instead of reacting with anger or defensiveness
• Finally breaking the habits that have controlled you for years
• Living consciously instead of being controlled by unconscious patterns

This isn't wishful thinking. Millions of people worldwide have used Dianetics to break free from repeating mistakes and take control of their lives.

Take the First Step

If you're tired of repeating the same mistakes, it's time to take action.

Read the book: Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health explains exactly how repeating patterns work and how to stop them.

Order your copy: Get the book delivered anywhere in South Africa—Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, or anywhere in Mzansi.

Start your journey: Follow the techniques in the book to find and erase the engrams driving your repeating mistakes.

You don't have to keep making the same mistakes. The solution is here.

Order Your Copy Now - R400

Break the pattern. Take back control. Start living consciously.

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About Hubbard Dianetics Foundation South Africa

The Hubbard Dianetics Foundation South Africa is dedicated to making the life-changing technology of Dianetics available to individuals across South Africa. Our mission is to help people overcome mental barriers, resolve past trauma, and achieve their full potential through proven Dianetics techniques developed by <a href="https://www.lronhubbard.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">L. Ron Hubbard</a>.

Get Your Copy of Dianetics Today

Ready to take control of your mind and transform your life? Order your copy of Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health for just R400 (including free shipping across South Africa).

Order Your Copy Now →

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References & Further Reading

1. Hubbard, L. Ron. Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Bridge Publications, 2007.
2. Research studies on trauma resolution and mental wellness techniques
3. Official Dianetics materials and training resources

Last updated: 19 January 2026

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes and is based on Dianetics principles. Individual results may vary. For personalized guidance, consider consulting with a certified Dianetics practitioner.