There's a feeling of powerlessness that comes with failing to recall information, isn't there? And the more important the information – be it a name, a mathematical formula or a word – the higher that feeling of having no power over your memory becomes.
But you really don't have to suffer from this powerlessness. You can learn how to increase memory power. And the good news is that a meaningful transformation can occur almost overnight using these three simple steps.
1. Determine what "memory power" means to you.
Go ahead and get out a piece of paper or something to write on. Then, without thinking about it too much, write down everything that comes to mind related to your personal concept of memory power.
If you like, you can also create a mind map. Mind maps are great because they free you from many aspects of linear thinking and let you see different connections that normally go unnoticed.
Make sure that you spend 5-10 minutes on this exercise before taking a break. Then come back to it, assess what you've written and add any more details that come to mind.
In particular, search your writing and/or mind mapping for three kinds of information that can be placed into different categories. These categories are "fears," "opportunities" and "strengths." (I've adapted terms from a coach named Dan Sullivan for use in your world of memory improvement, but if you're an entrepreneur, check out his teaching sometime soon.)
Then, on another sheet of paper, put a headline on top that says something like "how to increase memory power."
Beneath that, create three columns, one for each category. For example, when I completed the prose version of this exercise, I wrote:
Memory power means the ability to recall anything I've studied at any time and under any condition. Relaxation is always part of the process of memory power. It also means learning and memorizing information that will actually make a difference to the quality of my daily life. True memory power exists when I'm able to share the processes and results of how to increase memory power with others.
The mind map version (because I think it's important to do both) looks like this:
I've give you this handwritten image because that's exactly how I suggest you write out your mind map. It takes just a few seconds. But in case you can't read my handwriting or interpret my short form, here's the list of what "memory power" means to me. It's the ability to:
* Memorize Facts * Memorize Math & numbers * Helping others do the same * Feel great * Recall anything * Experience no stress during the memorization using relaxation
Next, on the three column sheet, map everything onto the three categories. Scroll to the Further Resources section of this post to download a worksheet if you prefer that to free writing on a blank page. Again, this isn't rocket science. Just a simple sheet of paper will do. So you can make out what I've written, here's the words in type (and in more normal English):
Fears
Not being able to concentrate Not being relaxed Not being able to recall Being frustrated Worrying Failure
Strengths
Creativity Relaxation/Meditation Ability to teach others Writing books about memory
Opportunities
45 mins for memorzing vocabulary 45 mins for practicing recall Writing an email to a reader Drafting a new book
This Memory Power Exercise Eliminates All Fear
In sum, this exercise helps not only define what memory power means to you and how to improve it. The exercise also identified your fears. With awareness of these, you can eliminate them one at a time from your life before proceeding to the next exercise.
Some people may think this first step towards memory improvement
Published on 10 years, 11 months ago
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