Zeigarnik effect

Psychologists have identified a phenomenon related to memory known as the "Zeigarnik effect" - that the brain remembers incomplete tasks and failures far longer than successes or completed activity. When a project is completed successfully, the brain seems to compartmentalize the memory and no longer gives it priority, causing it to fade away. But failures have no closure - they remain active. The brain continues to process the memory as if trying to fix it and finally move it to "inactive status."

David Jeremiah asks, "Does that sound familiar? Have you experienced the inability to let a 'failure' go - to 'forget about it' and move on? Perhaps that's God's way of keeping matters active until we know His closure, His resolution. Sometimes failures are not revived - dreams and visions can die, and they need to be released. But sometimes God brings them back to life. He restores the wasted years . . . gives life to dry bones . . . makes successes out of failures. But we have to wait upon Him and have faith that He will make matters clear. If you lack closure on an issue, put your trust in God. He will let you know in His good time what you should do - and when." (Turning Point Daily Devotional, 10-11-04)