By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
– George Santayana (Jorge Agustín Nicolás Ruiz de Santayana y Borrás)

These timeless words have never echoed louder than they do today. In a world brimming with information, connectivity, and rapid technological advancement, we find ourselves slipping into a troubling paradox: we are becoming more distracted, more divided, and in many ways, less wise.

As therapists, educators, and emotionally aware individuals, we must take a closer look at what is unfolding. The evidence is not just anecdotal — it’s scientific. Recent studies confirm a decline in human intelligence in various parts of the world, reversing decades of growth once attributed to the Flynn Effect (a trend that showed rising IQ scores over generations). This isn’t just about IQ — it’s about how we think, feel, and connect.

So what is happening?

The Age of Distraction and Decline

We live in the era of more. More content. More updates. More opinions. But somewhere in the noise, we’ve lost depth. Shallow content dominates our feeds. Instant gratification is now the default. Critical thinking, patience, and emotional regulation — essential components of a healthy mind — are slipping through our fingers.

Instead of engaging with nuance, we’re reacting to soundbites. Instead of reflecting, we’re scrolling. Instead of learning from the past, we’re entertaining ourselves to the brink of forgetfulness.

As a society, we are facing what some researchers call the rise of collective stupidity — not the absence of intelligence, but the abandonment of wisdom. It’s not that we can’t think deeply. It’s that we often won’t.

Emotional Intelligence in Decline

In therapy, we often talk about self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to manage one’s emotions. These aren’t soft skills — they are survival skills. And as emotional intelligence diminishes, we begin to see the broader consequences:

• Breakdown in relationships and communities
• Polarization and intolerance
• Reactivity instead of reflection
• A culture of blame over responsibility

If we are to evolve emotionally and socially, we must recognize that wisdom is not inherited — it is practiced. And right now, as a global community, we are out of practice.

History Is Not Just a Story — It’s a Warning

Therapists often explore the past to help clients understand their patterns. The same applies to humanity at large. History is not just about remembering dates and events — it’s about understanding cycles. The patterns of war, division, economic collapse, and dehumanization are not new. And yet, we seem shocked each time they return.

Why? Because we don’t stop to remember. We don’t pause to reflect. We don’t hold space for learning — because we’re too busy surviving in the dopamine-fueled race of the present moment.

The Arrogance of Ignorance

Perhaps most dangerous of all is the arrogance — the belief that we can ignore the warning signs and somehow escape the consequences. That we can devalue truth, deny science, and dismiss empathy, and still expect to thrive.

But healing doesn’t work that way — not for individuals, and not for humanity.

What Does This Mean for Therapy and Emotional Wellness?

For those of us in the therapeutic space, this moment presents both a challenge and a calling.

We are being invited to:

• Reclaim depth in a world addicted to speed.
• Teach emotional literacy alongside cognitive skills.
• Hold space for truth — even when it’s uncomfortable.
• Foster critical thinking and compassion — two traits that must walk hand in hand.

We must help our clients, our communities, and even ourselves return to what matters: meaningful connection, introspection, accountability, and growth.
Because awareness is the first step to healing. Both individually and collectively.

Humanity at a Crossroads

We are not powerless in the face of decline. We are simply at a crossroads — a place of choice. Will we continue to be swept away by the current of triviality, or will we wake up, remember our history, and write a better future?

As therapists, healers, educators, and advocates, our role is not just to help others survive — it is to help them awaken.

Awaken to their patterns.
Awaken to their pain.
Awaken to their potential.
And perhaps most urgently — awaken to the truth of our times.

The path forward won’t be easy. But if we can remember the past, we might still reclaim our future.

— Linda C J Turner

Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment