Don't Forget to Remember

Often I hear people complain about not being able to remember the way that they expect they should. They seem frustrated, embarrassed and angry about the fact that they forget the things that they think should be automatic or simple to hold onto. For example, walking from one room to another in order to get something and then arriving there only to realize that they cannot remember what they were getting. Or, for the first time, forgetting the birthday of a loved one. Or not being able to remember their own telephone number, middle name or address.

The more anxious a person becomes because of memory loss, the more difficult it is to retrieve the desired information. In fact, some people sabotage themselves by saying "I can't believe I am so stupid. There's something wrong with me. I just can't seem to remember anything anymore". That doesn't help!

Instead, try saying "It will come to me in a minute" and then relax, take a deep breath and allow your mind the necessary time to begin working for you. You will be surprised by the fact that the thing you are searching for suddenly jumped into your mind and onto your lips.

You see, we often store information in our minds but then have problems with retrieving it. The facts are there, it is just that the mind is slower in finding them than you might want or expect.

By using a few simple strategies, you will be able to understand and trigger your memory so that it will provide you with the information you need.

There are so many things that I really don't want to or need to remember. It is not helpful to fill my day with memories of things from the past that have been resolved. I really don't want or need to have the life stories of the more than 7,000 clients that I have seen at the front of my mind. Formulas, addresses, old telephone numbers and other data that has expired or is no longer useful can and should be purged with pleasure as this will allow more space for things that matter.

Some things, on the other hand, need to be remembered. Things that hold lessons, wisdom or blessings should be treasured. Sometimes we remember things that have happened to us on a personal level and set up rituals or ceremonies to keep the memories strong. At other times, we remember things that happened to us collectively - as a family, group, country or global community.

The Online Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines remembrance as: "something that is done or made to honor the memory of a person, thing, or event".

In the next few days we will be honouring those individuals who fought and continue to fight for us so that we can enjoy freedom. This is one of the blessings that we really need to hold onto at both a personal and a collective level every day.

It's Remembrance Day - Lest we Forget!