We Forget - Thank Goodness - Three Simple Memory Tools

Have you wondered sometime about someone's name that you know, because you remember the face, but you can't recall the name? Have you ever thought about what it was that you needed at the store, figured it out, went to the store, only to realize when you returned home that you had forgotten the one item you meant to get? This is short term memory, and it often doesn't function like we'd like. Then there is the test that you prepare for, you know all the answers, only when you take the test, about half of them questions get past you, ever have that happen? That's long term memory, and it can also be misleading- it functions well in some regards, but experts have shown that the memory we have is often not as accurate as we'd like to believe it is. This article isn't to get you to doubt your memory, quite the contrary what we're going to suggest is three things you can do to help it.

Why you should try to help your memory, involves the simplest of truths, it is a resource, one which we aren't totally certain of in terms of limits. We know that the brain connects chemically to make recall, and we have a pretty firm grasp on how that occurs, and why, what we aren't totally certain of is the amount. So what I want to suggest to you is that it makes sense to help your memory out, just as it makes sense to turn off a light bulb to conserve electricity and reduce the electrical bill, it makes sense to help your mind in the area of memory so when the bill comes due you will be able to pay.

The first and most important thing to do is use devices to aid your memory - the first device is visual, picture images, we attach emotion to them, this is a Dale Carnegie method, but it works and works really well. What we are suggesting is to take this memory tool of using an image for the thing you want to remember, and attaching an extreme emotion to it, be that happiness or sadness, as you so this, run the image through your mind three times, with the emotion. This will coordinate your mind to the image and the emotion, and this is how the recall mechanism will be put in place.

The second and not less important, just different mechanism involves a layering in of items, such as a list. If for example, what you want to commit to memory is a paragraph of data, begin with sentence one, run it through your mind ten times, before moving on to sentence two, and do this with every pursuant sentence, repeating them all in the pattern. At the end of the pattern you will have said the lead sentence 10 times 10 times the number of sentences, and, you will have attached each pursuant sentence to the one preceding it. This method is often employed by those who have to deliver lines, and when taking tests this can produce phenomenal results.

The third way, again, not less important, just different, involves a mechanism that we use in a different way, and training it to be used in this way. Because this is the case, it takes a while to build results, but once developed, this method will serve you and your memory in ways that are hard to believe, so we won't spend time bragging about them, you will experience them when you master this. Look very carefully at the item you want to remember, whatever that item is, firmly lock that picture into your mind by using the careful ability of observation, and look for the flaw, you will usually find something about any image that eventually will appear to you as a flaw. When you get good at this you will instantly "snapshot" the image into your mind. Yes this is called a photographic memory, thing is, for some this is a birth trait, for most of us, it has to be developed, but here is the good news, when you retrain yourself about reading, and begin taking snapshots, you will literally be amazed at what you actually saw on the page.

Reading the title you see the words, "thank goodness," which is because people who work with memory, well, we wouldn't have anything to do if your brain wasn't so good at forgetting, would we? On the other hand, here is a fact that organizing your brain will really help you see clearly- forgetting is your most valuable function, if you remembered all of the actions you take, all of the moments that your brain takes in, you would overload all the senses immediately, therefore your best option is to forget, with the ability to recall, which is precisely what we have been discussing.