Dylan Callens's Blog: The Silent Guardian, page 6

How to Remember Names and Faces

If someone came up to you and said, “If you remember my name a week from now, I’ll give you a million dollars,” would you remember that name?

You probably would, right? I know that I would.

Many people believe that it’s difficult to remember names and faces. It’s a limiting belief that prevents many of us from trying to do it. But all you need is a good strategy and the confidence to work on it.

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Joyful! A Novel 1.3

I had to see my physician, Dr. Macleod, the other day. He is a good doctor, a bit younger than me, but not by much. At least he’s not straight out of medical school. He has the experience necessary to give a proper diagnosis. 

Dr. Macleod is a Scotsman through and through — crew-cut red hair and a red beard as if his head was on fire. The spirit of his ancestors spat from his mouth in thick, rolled r’s like an engine...

An Introduction to Developing Focus, Attention, and Concentration

It’s easy to blame outside distractions, like our phones, for distracting us. Even a body of research suggests these devices are responsible for shortened attention spans. Truthfully, we just need to learn techniques for developing focus, attention, and concentration.

Phones are only part of the story. If we weren’t easily distracted, the beeps and dings coming from those tiny computers wouldn’t pique anyone’s curios...

Smiling Makes You Happy and Healthy

Last Words

Is it true? Smiling makes you happy and healthy? It can lower stress, boost your immune system, and prolong your life?

Scientists like Dr. Isha Gupta claim smiling can do all of these things. According to Dr. Gupta, smiling triggers a series of chemical reactions in the brain that make a person happy.

Furthermore, psychoneuroimmunologists (scientists that study how brains influence the i...

Joyful! A Novel: Part 1.2

At the risk of sounding rancorous, the best word to describe the various social circles among school staff is cliques. Not only for its denotative meaning of being an exclusive group; I also mean it in the etymological sense, cliquer, to make a noise. That’s what these pedagogues do, create a constant din in the background.

In many ways, they are like groups of high school children that have physically aged but forgo...

Compassion and Happiness

Models of Happiness

When I ask myself, what is happiness, I’m not sure I can answer the question. I figure it probably has something to do with my general satisfaction with life. Am I looking for tips and tricks to make me happier? Are tips and tricks a way to become happier? Am I trying to raise my base level of happiness (whatever that might mean!)? And does that require a significant shift in ...

Misconceptions about Adult Learning

Introduction

There are many misconceptions about adult learning. There is also one important truth of which we need to be aware. This truth seems to be the source of many limiting beliefs which simply aren’t true, so let’s examine that first.

In our thirties, our brains begin to shrink a little. This process continues into our sixties, at which time it seems to accelerate. The areas most affected ...

The Best Memory System for Historical Years, Months, and Days

Introduction

In the previous section, we learned how to remember the year of a historical event. That’s usually great for early history, where the dates aren’t precisely known. Now we’ll look at how to memorize days and months because as we get into modern history, you’ll probably be required to remember those, too.

This tec...

Joyful! A Novel: Part 1.1

The last time I told someone I was a history teacher, I couldn’t decide what the expression on his face meant. With his head tilted back, an embarrassed grin stretched thin like an elastic band between his ears. In his eyes, I thought I could see the words, “Those who can’t, teach.” Maybe it was more like, “History? What’s the point of that?” In retrospect, it was probably the latter because there wasn’t a follow-up...

The Body Memory System for Fast Memorization

Introduction

Perhaps it’s just nostalgia because the body memory system is the first one I learned, but I love this technique. It’s fast, easy, and effective!

Unlike the memory palace and memory journey, you can see and touch the different locations on your body, which, for me, helps trigger the memory of what I want to remember.

This system is best for simple lists that you need to remember. Wheth...