Can memories affect real life?

Life is all about choices and how one life effects another,whether we choose to or not. Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind is about a man who decides to have the memories of his girlfriend erased after learning that she did the same to him. The problem occurs when, during the procedure, his subconscious realizes he still loves her and he struggles to save his memories of her. This brings into question how effective can our memories be if they are so easy to forget, both in the case of a crew of people hired to erase the and in real circumstances. I also think this really caused me to consider whether or not or memories could affect real life. I think there is some truth to this because if we don't remember something, we try our best to access the information. And if we find that we can't, we go on a quest to find out. Similar to how Joel and Clementine eventually met up at their frozen hideaway.

(or)

I think there is a certain part of everything we experience that never leaves us. Joel and Clementine still manage to find each other even after both of them supposedly "erase" the other. So memories can be altered but feelings never just go away.