Anthony Metivier's Blog, page 30

Can Stress Cause Memory Loss And Confusion?

Can stress cause memory loss and confusion?

Not if you’ve got a gun in your face.

Like Ben Thomas.

Ben was walking through an L.A. neighborhood when he was robbed at gunpoint.

Next day, when the detective asked him to identify the perpetrator, Ben was able to do it very easily.

Over time, however, the author who experienced this violent incident, reported that he “remembered fewer images and more facts: the colors of the thief’s hoodie and pants, the words he’d said, even the exact time displayed on my iPod (12:36) at the moment I’d handed it over to him”.

Why would Ben remember more facts than images?

It’s because some memories formed under highly stressful situations get so strongly encoded in our brains that we never forget them.

But does that mean you should put yourself under stress to memorize your sales presentation?

 

The Answer Is A Big NO!

 

Because, in general, stress impairs memory, makes you forget things or even remember things differently.

Ben, for instance, could recall the thief’s face vividly for a day or two but after a few weeks, he couldn’t picture the guy’s face at all.

And keep in mind that Ben’s no dummy.

He’s not only an author, but also someone who happens to be an independent researcher who studies consciousness and the brain.

High IQ or not…

When we’re stressed, some memories stick like super glue while others get warped or lost.

For that reason, please understand this:

It’s never a good idea to induce stress when trying to memorize a book, your lessons or your campaign presentation.

You never know what essential information your brain will skip remembering!

Instead, increase focus and concentration from the ground up using a WRAP technique:

 

When Are You Under Stress? A Scientific Definition  

 

This quote is worth reading twice:

“When an organism faces emotional distress or is physically challenged the autonomic nervous system, a subdivision of the sympathetic nervous system, is automatically activated. Once activated, a cascade of physiological changes occurs that better enables an organism to confront (i.e. fight, freeze) or escape (i.e. flee) danger. The term “stress” applies to the condition under which the autonomic nervous system is activated and stress hormones are released.” (Impairing and Enhancing Effects of Psychosocial Stress on Episodic Memory and Eyewitness Report, Siobhan Marie Hoscheidt, 2011)

And guess what?

When you’re frozen, or busy running away, learning gets really tough.

Worse, there’s a part of the brain that controls stress that can really wreak havoc on your focus and concentration.

When you undergo a stressful event, the amygdala – a part of the brain that enables emotional processing – sends a distress call to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is like a command center that communicates with the rest of your body through the nervous system so that you have the energy to fight or flee.

 

Stress Can Make You Forget Things…

Even If You’re a Memory Champion

 

Want in on a little secret?

Stress doesn’t discriminate between the regular Joe, a presidential candidate or a memory champ.

It does and will mess with your brain.

Like it did for world memory champion Jonas Von Essen.

When Jonas was called to recite the closing credits of Newsnight from memory, he as well as some other names.

If that doesn’t put the spotlights on just how bad stress can be for even the best memory athlete, I don’t know what does.

Even as a memory expert, Jonas felt on the spot and stress was part of his embarrassing flub on TV.

But is it really a fail?

The answer is a bit more complex, so let’s have a look.

 

How Does Stress Affect Your Memory: The Inside Story

 

When under stress, brain freeze like what Jonas encountered happens mostly because your thinking is preoccupied with the stress-inducing stimuli – am I looking cool on TV – blocking out other thoughts.

But that’s not the complete picture.

While low levels of anxiety can affect your ability to recall information; high-stress situations, like being robbed at gunpoint, increases your brain’s ability to encode and recall traumatic events.

A study by Marloes J. A. G. Henckens and team demonstrated how “acute stress is accompanied by a shift into a hypervigilant mode of sensory processing in combination with increased allocation of neural resources to noise reduction. This reduction of task-irrelevant ambient noise, in combination with a stress-hormone-induced optimal state for neural plasticity, may explain why stressful events attain a privileged position in memory”.

 

What Does This Stress Memory Loss

Chemical Connection Mean?

 

In simple words, when you are anxious, your brain will put you on red alert and increase your focus and concentration on that stressful event by eliminating any other distracting information. This can aid in encoding some information into your long-term memory better.

However, there’s more to this story.

Chronic stress, like constant worry about losing your job, can have devastating effects on memory.

Here’s another one of those quotes worth reading twice:

“The effects of stress on memory are not always facilitatory. Several studies have demonstrated that while memory for emotional information is enhanced when encoded under stress, memory for neutral information can be impaired (Payne et al., 2006; 2007).” (Impairing and Enhancing Effects of Psychosocial Stress on Episodic Memory and Eyewitness Report, Siobhan Marie Hoscheidt, 2011)

Here’s another:

“Schilling et al. examined the effect of varying levels cortisol (a common measure of stress) on recall performance. The results provide evidence that stress and memory performance have an inverted U-shaped relationship, where too much stress has a deleterious effect on memory performance.” (Psychosocial Stress Increases Activity-but not Event-Based Prospective Memory, Mollie McGuire, 2016)

What does all this mean?

Simple:

When under stress, your body activates a part of the adrenal gland that dumps cortisol – also known as the stress hormone – into the bloodstream.

 

The Truth About Memory, Stress And Cortisol

 

In the short term, cortisol may be beneficial (basically because it mobilizes white blood cells and enhances the immune system).

However, cortisol binds to cells in that area of the brain that converts new experiences into memory. This binding disrupts the memory-forming process, ultimately making memory impairment permanent.

Researchers at the University of Iowa also found a connection between cortisol and short-term memory loss in older rats.

Another study by Cheryl D.Conrad found that chronic stress reduces spatial memory: the memory that helps you recall locations and relate objects. “Chronic stress clearly impacts nearly every brain region.”

Precisely the reason you sometimes forget where you kept your car keys when you are about to rush to the office for an important (read stressful) meeting.

High stress also activates the release of adrenaline into the bloodstream. Adrenaline increases your attentiveness which is important to support your defense mechanism of “fight or flight” when put in a stressful situation.

However, adrenaline and memory do not mix well.

While the increased attentiveness may have a fleeting beneficial effect on memory; the anxiety and distress – that causes adrenaline production – is likely to lead to brain fog and forgetfulness.

 

A Non-Stressful, No Brainer Memory Booster

 

It’s actually counterproductive if you worry about not remembering important details.

The more you worry about losing your mind, the more your brain gets stressed and the more you forget!

In reality, your ability to remember is related to the level of concentration and focus you used when trying to memorize facts than anything else.

Focus and concentration are key to memory recall. They are necessary for creating complete memories without any added stress.

One way to improve your concentration and focus is through meditation.

This mental exercise which involves sitting comfortably, focusing on your breathing, and then bringing your mind’s attention to the present is also beneficial in calming the mind and reducing effects of stress and anxiety.

Another thing to remember is that a ton of stress comes from poor diet. Specific types of food can have beneficial –  or detrimental – effects on memory. Moreover, it is possible to change your diet to maintain, and achieve better levels of memory.

But if you want just one thing that is not only the ultimate stress reducer, but also an effective memory enhancer, build Memory Palaces the Magnetic Memory Method way.

This powerful memorization method was even adored by the ancient Greeks. I’ve added lots of additional tools, including relaxation techniques that enable you to get more from your memory – without the hassle of stress.

 

Why Use A Memory Palace?

Good question.

It boils down to this:

The Memory Palace is the best memory technique because as a foundational learning technique, it allows you to develop and use spatial memory in a way that unlocks the power of autobiographical memory, episodic memory, semantic memory and more.

This enables you to move information into long-term memory faster and with reliable permanence.

Building a Memory Palace is a simple technique. You start by associating information with specific areas of a familiar location.

Then you walk through that location (in your mind) and place pieces of information that you wish to memorize in specific areas. When you want to recall that information, you go through that mental path and access that information easily.

If you are interested in this memory method, click on the image below:

You can use more than just visual imagery to remember information through association!

Truly magnetic imagery involves a combination of these six Magnetic Modes:

Conceptual (Ideas)

Olfactory (Smell)

Gustatory (Taste)

Kinaesthetic (Touch)

Auditory (Sound)

Visual (Sight)

A quick memory tip:

If you are struggling to remember these Magnetic Modes, rearrange them to make the acronym COG KAV. Next, create the image of a giant machine in a cave. Simple? Now, you will never forget your Magnetic Modes. Here’s an infographic to help make this strategy clearer:

 

Lead A Balanced Life

 

Dealing with constant stress and worry is not a great way to lead your life. Neither is it a reliable memory enhancement strategy.

The good news is that leading a balanced life is simple.

It involves a good night’s sleep, nourishing diet, meditation, and an effective, dedicated memory strategy (like the Magnetic Memory Method).

Combined, these simple activities will enable you to create strong memories that you can enjoy without worry.

Now how does that sound?

 

The post Can Stress Cause Memory Loss And Confusion? appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Stoic Secrets For Using Memory Techniques With Language Learning

Stoic philosophy has helped thousands of people live better lives.

But can it help you use memory techniques to learn a language better?

Turns out…

The answer is a resounding Yes!

And to show you exactly how, Christopher Huff joins us on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast.

Click play and you’ll learn:

* The secrets of rhythm you can use to help you remember words.

* How Christopher used the American presidents to better remember Chinese tones. (This approach is kind of like a hyper-focused PAO without a Major System supporting it.)

* How to memorize the prepositions in English in alphabetical order using a simple song.

* The powerful lesson Christopher learned from his first interaction with mnemonics.

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* Why Christopher places a cap on how many Magnetic Images he creates when using Anki.

* The biggest mistake Epicurus says you can make – and how it applies to memory techniques and language learning.

* The matter of jokes and telling lies in Toki Pona.

Regarding that cool language, make sure to subscribe to Christopher’s Language Fan YouTube channel and check out his language learning videos.

* Christopher also has an amazing video about the Goldlist Method, and in this interview he mentions the super-fascinating Leitner system.

* Christopher’s powerful definition of fluency, and how you can legitimately feel fluent even with a small pool of words and phrases.

* Why Christopher compares the use of mnemonics for language learning to skitching.

* The ultimate tool for developing fluency – something that we all have access to and yet too few people use!

* … and many more memory strategies of the world’s best language learners.

For more cool things from Christopher, please check out his Instagram – he draws cool comics and is constantly traveling all over the place.

And if you have questions or comments, please leave them below so we can get back to you.

In the meantime, if you haven’t already grabbed my FREE Memory Improvement Kit, here’s where to get it:

The post Stoic Secrets For Using Memory Techniques With Language Learning appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Aphantasia: Develop Your Memory Even If You Cannot See Mental Images

Aphantasia.

Sounds like a magic word a magician would say before conjuring a rabbit from his hat, doesn’t it?

But let me ask you this as you click play and listen to the audio version of this page:

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Can you visualize the magician pulling out the rabbit by his ears?

For most of us, it will be easy to recall images inside our head, using our mind’s eye.

However, if you could NOT see any image in your mind’s eye – no colors, no sounds, no smells, no textures, no flavors, nothing at all – you may have a condition called aphantasia or a blind mental eye.

Don’t freak out, though. Many people have aphantasia, even magicians.

Familiar with Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller fame)?

He is a famous magician and entertainer, and he is an aphantasic(!).

By his own admission, Penn says he cannot conjure a mental image of a person or a place to save his life.

 

What Exactly is Aphantasia? A Detailed Definition

The term ‘aphantasia’ comes from the Greek words a, meaning “without”, and phantasia, meaning “a capacity to form mental images”.

The phenomenon was first described by the controversial psychologist Francis Galton – one of the pioneers of eugenics – in 1880.

The interest in the phenomenon was renewed after the publication of a study conducted by a team led by Dr. Adam Zeman, a professor of cognitive and behavioral neurology, at the University of Exeter.

Zeman’s team published a paper in 2015 on what they termed “congenital aphantasia”, now known simply as aphantasia.

For Firefox co-creator Blake Ross it was a surprise revelation that other people could visualize things in the mind’s eye while he couldn’t. “I can’t ‘see’ my father’s face or a bouncing blue ball, my childhood bedroom or the run I went on ten minutes ago,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

According to Craig Venter, the biologist who created the first synthetic organism: “It’s like having a computer store the information, but you don’t have a screen attached to the computer.”

 

Is Aphantasia a Common Phenomena?

 

While research on the subject is still in its nascent stages, neurologists believe approximately one in 50 people or 2-5% of the population are non-visual-imagers.

Sounds like a big number?

Don’t be surprised. Being an aphantasic is nearly as common as having a food allergy.

Neuroimaging has shown that mental imagery, although strongly associated with the left temporal lobe, requires the use of large networks of brain pathways. This means that aphantasia could potentially occur in different ways in different individuals.

 

The Two Likely Causes Of Aphantasia

 

However, the exact cause of aphantasia is still unknown. According to Dr. Zeman heredity and environment both are likely to be relevant causes.

Interestingly, an aphantasic may have a visual memory which means they may be able to describe in detail about how things looked – the cat had blue eyes, the umbrella was pink and matched the skirt – even though they cannot see these very images in their mind’s eye.

Moreover, many people who cannot visualize in mental images can think in sounds, while others can remember physical sensations.

Penn says, when he dreams, he’s not sure if he sees images but has the sensation of knowing that “ideas wash over me”.

 

Want to Take The Aphantasia Test?

 

It is not possible to “see” what someone else is picturing inside their head unless they describe it to you.

So how do we check what your mind’s eye is seeing?

You can answer the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, which is what psychologists use to rate different mental images of an individual, to test the strength of his mind’s eye.

Although you don’t get any results, you’re helping a good cause by completing the survey and the questions themselves will tell you a lot about your imaginary visual style.

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How Aphantasia Affects Memory

 

Our brain stores information in two different ways – verbally and visually.

Both these types of storage are independent of one another, and each can be used alone.

Therefore, even people with aphantasia can complete the “tests of visual imagery” without too much difficulty.

Here’s a quick test:

Count the number of windows in your house.

Quick #memory improvement exercise: Mentally count all the windows in your home.Click To Tweet

Even if you can’t see a “mental” image of your house and locate each window in that image, you would have an awareness of being there and recall from factual information the number of windows in your house.

While aphantasics can remember things from their past, they experience these memories in a different way than someone with strong imagery. They often describe memories as a conceptual list of things that occurred rather than a video playing in their mind.

As Ross says, he can ruminate on the “concept” of a beach, but cannot flash to beaches he has visited.

“I know there’s sand. I know there’s water. I know there’s a sun, maybe a lifeguard. I know facts about beaches. I know a beach when I see it, and I can do verbal gymnastics with the word itself…But I have no visual, audio, emotional or otherwise sensory experience.”

The brain has many unique ways of storing visual information than just as a picture.

 

Multiple Ways To Create Visual Imagery In Your Mind

 

Neuroscientists believe that the brain constructs visual imagery in more than one way. There are separate circuits for things like shape, size, color and spatial relationships, and when these are accessed together, we form an image of a memory.

They think that aphantasics piggyback on neurons involved in controlling physical movements rather than using the visual brain circuitry to “visualize” or recall information.

For instance, you can trace the letter B of the alphabet in your brain to know it has curves or you can use your mind’s eye to see its image.

 

Are There Any Aphantasia Benefits?

 

While the research is still out on this one, Penn says that because he thinks verbally and not visually, when he gets an idea, he can describe it instantly.

While aphantasics’ use of spatial memory is stronger in the absence of visual memory.

It gets better!

People with aphantasia have been seen to perform on par with people who can visualize images in many tasks involving visual information.

Moreover, a 2003 study stated the benefit of mental imagery is surprisingly small when it came to creative thinking.

Does Aphantasia Hamper The Memory Techniques

That Call For “Visualization”?

 

Not in the least.

Tansel Ali and I talked about your multiple options in a recent interview.

In sum:

Memory techniques involve more tools than just visualization. You have many options.

Memory techniques involve more tools than just visualization. You have many #mnemonic options.Click To Tweet

When you use a memory technique like the Memory Palace use all the Magnetic Modes, you can memorize a very large amount of information relatively quickly without necessarily seeing the Memory Palace in your mind.

Here’s an infographic that tells you all about the different ways that your brain perceives information:

Personally, I don’t have aphantasia.

However, I am low on the visual threshold.

Most of what I do involves thinking about strange combinations of images in words and sounds, not high-definition imagery. I would call this being audio-conceptual.

So, if you are worried that the inability to see images in your mind will stop you from using the Memory Palace technique.

Don’t be.

Over the years, I’ve invested in myself so that I can “see” something like visuals in my mind. But even to this day, the best results I get from memory techniques don’t require constant streaming of high-definition images in my head.

Here’s my discussion on this issue:

In any case, if you want to visualize bright, vivid pictures in your mind’s eye, you can try image streaming.

 

Image Streaming Vs. Aphantasia?

 

Image streaming is a simple process that enables you to open up your mind’s eye to visuals.

Here’s how it works:

Close your eyes and describe what you see.
If you don’t see anything (which would exactly be the case if you have aphantasia) help your brain start seeing images.
Start by gently rubbing your closed eyes like a sleepy child. Then describe the bright sparkly light that you see behind your closed retina.
Or look at a bright light like a candle for a half minute, or a window which has strong light/dark contrast. Then when you close your eyes, you should be able to see after-images, like a blob of light or color, at back of the eye. Describe that blob of light.
You can also describe a memory that you cannot “see” but remember from the past.
The important thing is to describe using all your sensory details – meaning use all your five senses of sight (vision), hearing (audition), taste (gustation), smell (olfaction), and touch (somatosensation) to describe your bob of light or memory.
While you are examining and describing your after-images or memory events, keep a look out for experiencing some other kinds of image. It could be a momentary face, landscape, or whatever. Notice when this happens, and switch to describing that new image.
Remember to describe all images to an external  focus – quickly and loudly. The external focus can be a friend or a dictaphone (voice recorder), anything or anyone you can talk to.
Practice image streaming for only 10-20 minutes a day to enable your mind’s eye to see pictures.


How to Use A Memory Palace With A Blind Mind’s Eye?

 

Associating pieces of information with a location you are familiar with, like your house, is the basic idea behind the Memory Palace Technique.

And it does not need you to visualize your house. You can “know” factually which room is where in your home or where is the window or door or the attic located.

Keeping the full range of your Magnetic Modes in mind, you can use any home or location with which you are familiar.

The effectiveness of the Memory Palace technique is based on the scientific fact that your brain and spatial memory perceive space as a kind of image.

Check out this lecture for more information about how that works:

If you’re interested in this “Magnetic” technique, click on the image below:

 

Memory Is More Than A Mental Picture Book

 

Memory is many things. It includes facts, figures and figments of information stored in various regions of your brain.

But more than that, memory is the ability to communicate these kinds of information to others and recognize them when they are being communicated to you.

When it comes to how you get information to play with in the first place, there are many ways. Some are faster than others.

Using an effective, dedicated memory strategy system like Magnetic Memory Method you can easily retrieve those memories faster and with predictable and reliable permanence.

Add to it a balanced diet, meditation, and sleep and you will be able to enhance your memory, concentration and focus in a way that improves your entire life.

Doesn’t that make a pretty picture?

The post Aphantasia: Develop Your Memory Even If You Cannot See Mental Images appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

3 Shocking Ways Smartphone Addiction Erodes Your Brain And Memory

Can smartphone addiction fry your brain cells?

Not literally, but that twitchy connection to your phone?

It definitely affects your abilities to concentrate and think deeply.

And that means device addiction harms your ability to remember.

Worse:

Smartphone addiction not only turns you into a social pariah…

 

It Can Also Be Fatal!

 

In 2015, distracted driving (due to texting or talking on the cellphone) killed 3,477 people and injured another 391,000.

And there’s more bad news…

According to the National Safety Council, using cell phones while driving can make you more accident prone than even drunk driving…

No wonder people are concerned over how cell phones are affecting their lives!

In January this year, two of Apple’s biggest shareholders wrote an open letter to the company requesting it to provide “more choices and tools” so that parents could restrict their children’s smartphone usage time.

The letter added that researchers have found this shocking statistic:

“U.S. teenagers who spend 3 hours a day or more on electronic devices are 35 percent more likely, and those who spend 5 hours or more are 71 percent more likely, to have a risk factor for suicide than those who spend less than 1 hour.”

Smartphone addiction is a serious issue and may need some creative problem solving using the C.R.E.A.T.E. formula:

But here’s the real question:

What about YOU?

Are you displaying cell phone addiction symptoms?

Let’s find out:

 

Are You A Nomophobic?

 

I know you will never admit it, but when you are unable to find your phone for even 30 seconds, it causes a minor anxiety attack.

How do I know this?

Because it happens to people every single second of the day.

Look at this poor fellow:

So, is he a nomophobic?

Absolutely!

Nomophobia or ‘NO MObile PHOne phoBIA’ is the fear of not being able to use your cell phone or have access to your device.

Want to know if you’re truly addicted? Take this online quiz to find out.

Nomophobia is real, but the medical community is not ready to declare overuse of cell phones as a clinical addiction.

 

Ignoring The Data?

 

They neglect to do so in the face of some shocking data.

As the Joker suggests (I misquote), “whatever doesn’t kill us, only makes us stranger”…

Nearly one in ten people admitted to using their smartphones during sex, in the shower, on a movie date, in church or other place of worship, as per the 2013 Mobile Consumer Habits.

What’s more, nearly three-quarters of the respondents said that they were always within five feet of their smartphones.

Although doctors do agree that if you can’t stop using your phone, even when it’s harming your life, you may be “addicted.”

“Only a small percentage of people qualify as addicted. But many people overuse their smartphones.”

This quote comes from Dr. David Greenfield, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut and founder of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction.

Smartphone addiction is not listed as an official mental disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. However, psychologists are debating about whether that should change.

Some researchers also say that the development of smartphone addiction is similar to that of a gambling disorder (or gambling addiction), which is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

How does addiction work?

With gambling, the reward of winning once in a while is what hooks people to the habit.

Smartphone addiction works on a similar principle. Most of the time, a phone notification will be insignificant.

However, every once in a while…

 

Something Meaningful Happens!

 

Like a phone call from an old friend, or a Facebook notification that someone has tagged you in a photo. Researchers say this type of messages are irresistible and can lead to overuse or addiction to your device.

There’s more…

Device addiction can extend far beyond just the smartphone.

Recently, the World Health Organization announced that video game addiction will now be classified as an official mental health condition in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases.

According to the WHO, gaming disorder is “characterized by a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior  manifested by: 1) impaired control over gaming (e.g., onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, context); 2) increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities; and 3) continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.”

“The behavior pattern is of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning,” WHO adds.

Whether it is to play video games or check your Facebook notifications, here’s the truth:

Spending too much time with your smartphone will slowly but surely harm your mind.

 

How Smartphone Addiction Damages Your Memory

 

For starters, the presence of smartphone alerts is disrupting our already weak ability to focus on the task at hand.

Moreover, excessive use of cell phones also causes headaches, impaired concentration and memory, and fatigue.

If you are constantly using your mobile phone to surf the internet it affects the brain’s frontal lobe and brainstem functions, resulting in decreased ability to speak, reason and comprehend social cues.

Researchers also found that smartphone addiction can lead to an imbalance in brain chemistry that triggers depression and anxiety.

Ultimately, smartphone addiction can impair your ability to interact in the real world to the detriment of your personal and professional relationships.

 

It’s Not Just Brain Damage

 

Smartphone addiction does more than alter your brain chemicals. Your posture also gets affected when you use your phone all the time.

And according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, posture affects mood, behavior and memory.

Therefore, frequent slouching to look at your device screen can make you depressed.

What’s more, Researchers at the University of Michigan state that the tucking your chin (or chins) and hanging your head to look at the smartphone is also causing empathy levels to fall and narcissism to rise among individuals.

 

A Reliable, Easy & Fun Way To Learn Things

(Without Googling It On Your Smartphone)

 

We have all done it:

Reached for our smartphones the instant we want to verify a fact, learn a new bit of information, watch a video or read an ebook.

But there are other approaches.

One simple way to undo the damage done by mobile phone overuse is to switch off the phone and go back to a real book for information or entertainment.

Need more incentive?

Re-read of a book from the past. This way you’ll not only defeat Digital Amnesia, you’ll also enhance your attention as you give your brain the opportunity to revisit information from the past offline.

You can also Mind Map, and I’ve recently shared one of my own to demonstrate just how powerful this approach can be for memory, focus and concentration:

 

Digital Fasting…

The Cure For Smartphone Slavery?

 

But the ultimate technique is called “Digital Fasting.”

It’s easy:

Just leave your smartphone at home or sit in a cafe with no WiFi so that you are not distracted by your device and can dedicate mental space to the book at hand.

And if boredom strikes and you feel the need to sneak out your smartphone, use these 3 ridiculously boring ways to add focus and excitement to your life.

But no memory improvement training will work to the highest possible degree if its not linked to memorizing information that will immediately improve your life.

And to do that, you learning projects need to involve Memory Palaces (ideally by creating them the Magnetic Memory Method way).

 

Why On Earth Is That?

 

Because when you create Memory Palaces using the Magnetic Memory Method it lets you measure your memory improvement activities.

And tracking your outcomes leads to rapid improvement in the way information gets stored in your long term memory.

Even better:

All other memory techniques including playing crossword puzzles can be used inside of Memory Palaces.

But this never takes place the other way around (For example, you can’t use Memory Palaces inside of the Major Method the way you can use the Major Method inside of Memory Palaces.)

Building Memory Palaces is also great for dealing with a diminishing attention span.

Use the tips in this video about how to break through your attention span myths and limitation to help you craft the attention span you deserve.

If you are looking for a complete brain rehab try this method…

Click on the link below to get started:

Get  More Out Of Your Existence

 

You want to live a full, vibrant, exciting life?

You don’t want a zombie-like existence where a handheld device controls your emotions, moods, experiences and even what information your brain can or should store?

If “hell yeah” is your response then we are on the right track!

But don’t worry if you don’t have it all mapped out when trying to get rid of the smartphone addiction habit. You don’t have to.

You can create your own hacks for building better habits.

Better still, use the magic of Memory Palaces to unlock your brain’s true potential and lead the magnetic life you deserve.

Come on, say it loud (just not into your smartphone) – hell yeah!

Tansel Ali On How Gratitude Can Help You Remember Almost Anything

Tansel Ali is possibly the most positive memory champion on the planet.

Turns out there’s a solid reason why.

A few reasons, actually.

And in this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, I speak with 4x Australian Memory Champion Tansel Ali talks about memory improvement and positive thinking.

This may well be the most valuable hour you spend listening to a podcast about memory improvement.

Why?

For starters…

In addition to discussing the role of gratitude in coming up with effective visualizations when using mnemonics, Tansel discusses the importance of reading, memorizing cards with music on and focusing on the right things to maximize performance in your memory and life.

Plus, when you scroll up and click play above, you’ll soon discover…

* Why Tansel was originally skeptical about memory improvement and thought all TV memory trainers were fake.

* The factors responsible for making people suspicious of memory techniques because they seem like magic “tricks.”

* How Tansel wound up at his first memory competition and took second place.

* The other rewards memory improvement brings you, including mindset, job performance and fun.

* Tansel’s transition from memory competition to enhancing his own life and the lives of others through teaching memory.

* Why you need to continue challenging your memory almost like the physical training of the body to keep the mind in top shape.

* Exactly how participating in memory competitions help you develop preparation and developing positive self-talk.

* Why Tansel sometimes FORCES himself NOT to use memory techniques in order to challenge his brain.

* Tansel’s definition of consistency and the development of successful habits that you can use to challenge yourself.

* Why you should go without fear of making mistakes for the health of your brain and the development of effective discipline.

Tansel Ali book signing of The Yellow Elephant on Kindle for me in person.

* Tansel’s personal training regime and how he makes it count.

* How Tansel thinks about visualization as a kind of muscle and how he trains it for competition.

* A quick comparison of Alex Mullen’s training regime and Tansel’s focus on efficiency to improve the right skills and maximize performance.

* A discussion of aphantasia and why you don’t actually have to see pictures in your mind to use memory techniques.

* How Tansel uses feelings and thinking in words to create mnemonic imagery – and why feeling creates more impact.

* How to give the mnemonic imagery you create greater value through personalization.

* Practical reasons you should memorize cards. For one thing, they set you up to make creative decisions that goes beyond just remembering information. And here are 13 more reasons you should have a system for remembering cards.

* Tansel’s thoughts on music and memory and how he memorizes cards with music playing.

* The benefits of training your memory and where to start (also discussed in this video):

* The importance of making memory training fun and interesting, rather than a chore.

* Tansel’s history with apps for memory training and meditation and how to reduce stress.

* How Tansel changed from wallowing in negativity to living in positivity.

* Why you don’t have to use bizarre or violent imagery to remember information and positive options you can explore for creating and using mnemonics.

* Why we both approach shows like Breaking Bad with caution in order to maintain a positive mindset. Not that Breaking Bad can’t be useful for memory improvement, as you can see here:

* The role of gratitude in increasing the value of your imagination by focusing on specifics.

* Why “the law of attraction” is useless without taking action – and how you can use mindset to create the excitement needed to make sure you achieve your goals.

* Why Tansel wishes he had read more as a young person.

* Some of Tansel’s favorite memory books and why they changed his life, including books by Tony Buzan and Dominic O’Brien.

* Tansel’s take on Digital Amnesia and why he chooses to see the positive side of the debate about the so-called Google Effect.

* How Turkish is helping Tansel learn Japanese even without using Kevin Richardson’s Learn Japanese App (a.k.a. Memory Palace).

I want to thank Tansel for being on the show and thank you for listening. Please be sure to grab his books, visit his site and get connected on his various online platforms using the links below.

Further Resources

Yellow Elephant: Improve Your Memory And Learn More, Faster, Better by Tansel Ali

How to Learn Almost Anything in 48 Hours: Shortcuts And Brain Hacks For Learning New Skills Fast by Tansel Ali

Subscribe to Tansel Ali’s YouTube channel

Visit Tansel Ali’s website

Tansel Ali on Twitter

Tansel’s World Memory Stats 

The post Tansel Ali On How Gratitude Can Help You Remember Almost Anything appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

4.1 Painful Life Mistakes Burned Into My Memory And How To Avoid Them

We all make mistakes.

In fact, life mistakes are inevitable.

Heck, in many cases, they’re even desirable.

After all, we learn from our mistakes when picking up a language – including our native mother tongues.

But some life mistakes are probably avoidable.

Like the 4.1 I’m going to discuss in this post.

They are in no particular order of importance.

But I’ve stuck the one with a tutorial at the end. I believe if you pay that final point the most attention…

… and put its mini-lesson into action…

You will avoid SO much pain and suffering.

I wish I had known about that unique set of strategies anyone can use at least 21 years sooner!

So whether you’re 41 or any other age, let’s dive in with these mistakes life has burned into my memory and that I could have done without.

 

1. You Cannot Fulfill Anyone Else’s Dreams

(No Matter How Hard You Try)

 

Maybe it’s all the Romantic poetry I read.

Or maybe it’s just in my genes.

Whatever the reason, I have somehow wound up with a tendency to try and make others happy.

But it’s a trap!

Every time.

First off, “happy” is mostly meaningless.

There are too many possible definitions. Most of them are far from impressive, let alone correct.

I prefer the Greek term eudaimonia.

Some people translate it as happiness, but it actually refers to “flourishing.”

Already, that sounds better.

Concrete.

Something you can feel, see, embrace.

But even then, you cannot give flourishing to another human being.

The best you can do is reach out and try to connect.

Share with them some of what you know and the story of how you came to understand it.

Yes, there is “hard teaching.”

There is the do-this, do-that of the Memory Palace. Anyone can repeat the process, even if they’re a skeptic at first. (Especially if they’re skeptical.)

Likewise with brain exercises.

But getting people to complete the exercises?

That’s entirely on them.

The best you can do is offer inspiration and encouragement.

And if you love them, let them be.

Our siblings on this long-suffering earth can only do the things they are going to do.

And those of us who have traveled to a particular destination, can only show the way – the way we took, amongst many possible paths.

Though to reach some destinations, there really are only singular and definitive ways to reach the end.

Either way, if student and teacher are lucky enough to meet somewhere on the road, they can break bread.

Maybe sing a song or two together.

Or just hang out on a YouTube Live like this one we did for my birthday:

(If you’re not subscribed to my YouTube channel, you can take care of that here.)

But sooner or later, both will be off again on their individual journeys into the unknown.

And that’s a beautiful thing.

But when you try to tether ships together…

All too often, the ship bows start to knock.

And no two sails interpret the wind quite the same.

How could they?

Same wind.

Different sails.

If something you’ve taught them about sailing helps them correct course to wherever it is they’re trying to navigate, that’s great.

But they ultimately accomplished the task of navigation. From the deck of their own ship.

And there are lots of possible destinations.

We can’t all wind up on the same islands together.

Nor should we.

Anyhow, I’ve wasted a lot of time and energy trying to redirect some of the wind filling my sails to help others.

It never works.

 

Here’s What Guides You To Success Better

 

What does work is this:

Sharing the miracle of what one has learned about harnessing the wind’s power.

And respecting what the wind can do.

It sometimes makes sense to help a friend patch up one of their moth-bitten sails.

But you’ve got to make sure you don’t get stranded on their ship. Especially during a storm.

Keep yourself tied to your own mast.

That way you’ll always have a way back to your own ship.

And you reduce the danger that you may be the reason why the ship of your friend has started to go down.

Because the cruel reality is that help can be a hindrance.

Keep your awareness high of that potential problem and you’ll be better off and help save yourself and others from drowning under the weight of wisdom they may neither want nor need.

Is all that too abstract?

Perhaps.

But rest assured that the stories lurking behind these images are memories I could do without.

And I think that even without concrete examples, they could help you avoid many disasters too.

 

2. You Always Have All The Resources You Need

(Even If You Sometimes Fall For The Scarcity Illusion)

 

Actually, I don’t have any unusual nightmares lurking behind this life principle.

But I’ve seen many people not take action because they believed in scarcity, rather than abundance.

They didn’t have enough money.

They didn’t have enough energy.

They didn’t have enough time.

In every case, I could easily spot why these claims weren’t valid.

And when I opened my mouth about why I thought so… well… see point one above.

It’s very hard to make abundance visible to people convinced that they don’t have enough.

In fact, it may be impossible.

It seems like a universal rule that they have to figure it out for themselves.

I hate cliches – especially when they’re right – but I too have been the horse you could not force to drink.

Not often, but I get it.

I’ve just been blessed not to be duped by the lie of scarcity all that often in my short life.

But I’m aware of its potential for evil.

And the scarcity-mindset truly is evil.

 

The “Else” Exercise That Erases Scarcity From Your Brain

 

If you suffer from it, here’s a simple tip Jonathan and I talk about in Branding You Academy:

“Else.”

When you’re asking any of the famous “W” questions (What, Where, When, Who, Why) always add an “else.”

Like this:

What else?

Where else?

When else?

Who else?

Why else?

And of course:

How else?

Get out a big fat sheet of paper and let it all out.

Brain dump.

Mindmap.

C.R.E.A.T.E. the way I talk about in this YouTube Live:

Do whatever it takes to squeeze out every possible option.

Whatever it is you want to accomplish, you can find a way.

At the very least, you can find a way to get started.

And there will be magic in the movement.

Action is a special energy.

Without the woo-woo of “the Secret” or “the Law of Attraction,” I can explain why you will start to attract all the resources you will need if you just start moving – and keep moving:

It’s simple:

Because movement reveals hidden resources!

And it gives you what Gary Halbert calls a Fighter Pilot Attitude.

 

The Amazing Self-Help Secret Buried In A Fragment From Kafka

 

I also think of that story from Kafka.

You know the one (I’ll add a bit of my own flair, if you don’t mind):

The man who always takes the train to the next town for work misses his train.

So he borrows a bike.

When he gets to the next town, he asks an old man to watch over the bike as he goes to work.

Before he leaves, he tells the old man:

“I can’t believe how many more things I noticed about the landscape while riding the bike.”

The old man replies: “Just think how much more you’ll notice if you walk.”

Exactly the same thing will happen to you if you take action.

Instead of sitting on a speeding train of inactivity with your eyes blind to all your options, take another route.

And take that route another way.

You’ll start to notice a whole new world of detail – and possible avenues of action.

And you’ll talk to people you never noticed before.

People who will open you to even more perspectives.

Before you know it, you’ll be walking everywhere – the world will seem too abundant not to take your time and bask in everything it offers.

 

3. There Is No Such Thing As Free

 

The Internet is pretty cool. But I’ve been burned by it many times.

It’s like jacking the Gutenberg press directly into a vein.

The only problem is…

No one can consume all that content.

And even if any of us could…

They’d never be able to take action on even a small percentage of that knowledge.

And that’s a real problem.

Thanks to our genetic heritage, we are hunter-gatherers.

And the Internet triggers that ancient need to hunt and gather things that seem valuable to us.

We stock ‘em up and store them for the great famine.

Works great with berries and meat – if you know how to preserve them.

But with knowledge?

It’s horrible.

We’ve got a world full of people with all the knowledge they’ll ever need at their fingertips.

There’s NOTHING you cannot hoard into your coffers on the Internet for free.

And that’s a real problem for reasons that go far beyond file-sharing and lost revenue for content creators.

It’s a problem for all of humanity because discipline is slipping.

Completion rates are plummeting.

And those who escape the grip of Digital Amnesia and don’t fall prey to the attention span myth are getting fewer and fewer.

The consequence appears to be a growing elite of action-takers.

This elite wins more and more as an ever-increasing majority of people fall into the munching gears of the machines and algorithms that have turned human attention into a commodity.

People struggle to pay attention on digital devices.

And they’re not processing information the same way.

For this reason, information now costs far more than ever before.

Learning costs you more time and mental energy.

Why?

Because it takes longer to consume content when you’re endlessly flipping between 100 tabs and interrupted by dozens of notifications per minute.

And then you have to go over it again because the information is far too quickly – and easily – forgotten.

We’re still learning the lessons we need to learn, but the solution won’t change:

Invest in offline education at least as much as online education.

 

How To Complete The Quest For Balance Between

Online And Offline Knowledge

 

Find a balance between the two.

Get and read at least as many print books as digital books.

Attend at least as many live training events as the video courses you complete (assuming you can finish them in a world of digital distractions).

Invest in others by being with others.

That will help you invest in the future.

Sure, it’s grassroots.

Not always as International as the Internet seduces us into wanting.

But we know from basic brain chemistry that we need the chemicals that only being around others create.

And so much of the confidence and self-esteem issues, not to mention the vapid tribalism that seems to be getting worse and worse, is quite obviously tied to how much time we’re spending in online tribes instead of local ones.

That said…

 

4. There Is No Such Thing As Failure

 

The truth about failure is a hard and contradictory lesson to learn.

Especially when living at the top of your game technically requires you to fail a fair amount.

Or at least…

That’s the way it’s usually framed.

Here’s the truth, however:

No one likes failure and they’re right to try and avoid it.

Failure is painful!

And the typical way people advise us to “hack” failure is, to be frank, totally obnoxious:

“Fail fast. Fail often.”

 

Uhmmmmmm… No. And A Thousand Times No

 

I say this with certainty because the best antidote to failure is simple:

It’s success!

Now, I realize that I waxed messianic at the beginning of this post about the serious role mistakes play in our success. I have not forgotten that little speech.

But mistakes aren’t failures.

They’re sign posts that something needs to be changed.

And they are clues regarding what to change and often reveal precisely how to change things.

Especially if you use the “else” exercise I shared above.

But there’s also something else that leaves clues and shows us how to correct things that have gone wrong.

Again, it’s success.

So instead of failing and failing often, how about succeeding and succeeding often for a change.

And to do that, maybe you do have to put yourself in situations where you will “fail” from time to time.

But often enough, with just a bit of research and self-understanding, you can put yourself in contexts bound to give you more “quick victories” more often.

For example, if you know about your sensory preferences and the personal learning hierarchy I teach you how to discover in The Memory Connection, you can “engineer” learning situations in which you’d actually have to try hard to fail.

In brief, we all have at least 6+1 Magnetic Modes. The main 6 look like this:

The 7th is space itself.

The 7th is the Magnetic Mode we use to create and use Memory Palaces.

 

Do You Know Your Learning Hierarchy?

 

You Learning Hierarchy is based on knowing whether you are more visual, auditory or kinesthetic concerning a particular topic.

Oh yes, your Learning Hierarchy can change! (It’s sneaky that way!)

But self-understanding is the way you stack the chips in your favor.

Sadly, most people are stacking those chips against themselves.

I’ve done it to myself far too many times.

But here’s the cool thing about getting older and having been fortunate enough to stumble into the art and craft of self-observation:

I feel I’ve managed to get out of the major life ruts we humans tend to fall into…

… just in time to set the stage for a much more enjoyable passage into the next stage of life.

Speaking of self-observation, here’s what I really wish I’d discovered sooner:

 

4.1 Not Learning To Meditate Sooner Created

Years Of Unnecessary Suffering

 

Frankly, every minute spent in meditation is the best investment of time and energy in the world.

And I wish I’d taken it more seriously sooner.

I first learned about it in Grade 12 English.

Our teacher took us through a guided meditation out of the blue.

I’m not sure why he didn’t do it at the beginning of every class.

But it made sense to me then and although it would be many years yet before I got into it seriously, the practice made a mark.

However, I’m a skeptic at heart. And I need science that makes sense before I take action on certain things.

And I just didn’t know that a lot of science supports a number of the meditative practices I had dismissed. Like these reports on how to improve concentration and memory Buddha-style.

To be fair, a significant amount of the science I needed to discover wasn’t out there yet.

And the Internet, as dangerous as it can be for taking action, wasn’t around to make it discoverable.

Plus, I was in that deadly hunter-gatherer mode that leads us to “save data for later” in the form of books marks and other dangerous tools of forgetting.

 

Why There Truly Is Happiness Beyond Thought

 

And it wasn’t until a friend told me about Happiness Beyond Thought by Gary Weber that I ordered a print copy of the book and gobbled it down in a way that never happens online.

(Thanks to Ben at Project Monkey Mind for the wind I needed in my sails!)

At least for me, it was important to get the physical copy.

Reading it would never have happened online because it’s just too twitchy a space for me to get any reading done.

Anyhow, Weber gave some solid science.

And he explained how research reveals certain yoga moves are more likely to help men for some reason.

Yet, oddly enough, a number of those moves tend to be practiced more often by women.

Meanwhile, men lock themselves into poor results because they tend to be more attracted to the cerebral brain exercise-type meditation.

Lo and behold, I gave some of these more movement based meditations a try.

And before you know it, I was enjoying PNSEs like there’s no tomorrow (Persistent Non-Symbolic Experience).

At first, these experiences scared me.

 

How I Escaped My “Dark Night Of The Soul”

 

I guess you could say I had what some people call a “Dark Night Of The Soul.”

It lasted for almost a year.

Across this period of time, I mainly experienced the oneness that the non-dualist Advaita Vedanta-types talk about.

And frankly… I didn’t like it.

For awhile, I couldn’t even understand the point of being alive at all given the conclusions this experience raised in me.

But then…

With consistent, persistent practice…

The warm soft glow Gary Weber talks about started to emerge.

It wasn’t like other stories where it just suddenly happens.

It was a soft glowing ember.

I have to keep blowing on it.

But it gets warmer and warmer.

And the more I explore the techniques and add kindling to the ember, the warmer this glow grows.

I almost can’t believe how amazing it all is…

I never want it to end.

And I want the whole world to have this feeling.

So to conclude this long 41st birthday blog post, here’s basically what I’ve been doing to grow this ember.

I have a feeling it will work for you too, even if it takes a while.

 

How You Can Meditate For Focus, Concentration, Memory & An Incredible Sense Of Well-Being In Just 15 Minutes A Day

 

1. I start the day with some simple stretching and movement.

I learned a lot of these moves years ago from Scott Sonnen and later in Systema.

2. I do some journaling.

Often I use The Freedom Journal. But I also use a number of different journals at the same time. It helps keep thoughts organized.

The point is to reserve some of your journaling for gratitude and another part for describing what I call the “Perfect Present.”

Basically, you just write out the way you want things to be.

And test your description for honesty by doing it multiple times.

3. I do three kinds of stretches I discovered in Happiness Beyond Thought.

The first just involves touching your toes.

The second is a kind of cow-tow thingy.

The third is like a sun dog yoga stretch

4. Breathing routines

I usually start by breathing in for a count of five, holding for a count of five and then exhaling for a count of five.

I do this until I feel centered.

Then I do this:

Next, I do breath withholding.

This involves breathing in for a count of 5, holding for a count of 16 (or four rounds of Sa Ta Na Ma), then breathing out for a count of eight.

I usually do this twice.

Finally, I will do the same count as before, but this time hold for sixteen with the lungs empty.

5. Number-Skipping with breathing

Next, I practice number-skipping.

I will inhale to the count of one, then breath in but suppress the thought of two, followed by counting the third breath.

This practice amounts in some ways to the “don’t think of a red cat” game. The very question practically forces you to think of a red cat.

And yet… strangely enough, it is possible to “skip” counting numbers by replacing them with the awareness that you are deliberately not counting the number.

So the number is there and it isn’t there.

This exercise is excellent for developing focus, concentrate and presence.

6. Language learning and memory training

We know that language learning helps develop white and grey matter in the brain.

That’s not the reason I do it, but I believe that spending at least a little bit of time every on language learning using memory techniques is part of the sense of well-being I experience.

It’s effortless to do. I talk a lot about it in this live discussion of using The Freedom Journal in combination with the Magnetic Memory Method:

7. Juggling

I don’t practice juggling every day, but I find the benefits incredible for developing focus and a feeling of well-being.

And check back here soon. I’m collecting footage for a little documentary about learning to juggle and recite the alphabet backwards. It’s kind of like juggling balls and thoughts at the same time.

And anyone can do it.

 

Anyone Can Experience Bliss

 

Well, that’s basically what I’ve done each and every day of my fortieth year.

It’s basically what I plan to do each and every day of my forty-first year too.

I wish I’d been doing it all along.

And I’m not going to fall prey to all of that “no regrets” nonsense.

No, I don’t really regret it…

But by the same token, I really do.

The past really could have been a lot better had I known to do these things sooner.

And if any of these suggestions make sense to you, I suggest taking action on them.

The sooner the better so that you can see what works and dismiss what doesn’t.

Failure to take action and try things is not to know.

Ignorance is most certainly not bliss.

Avoid it like the devil.

The post 4.1 Painful Life Mistakes Burned Into My Memory And How To Avoid Them appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

5 Memory Improvement Exercises That Don’t Require Another Annoying App

[image error]It’s annoying, isn’t it?

Your smartphone is supposed to be smart.

But instead, it’s packed full of junk you never use.

And if you’re like most people, you’ve downloaded a few brain trainers, some of which included memory improvement exercises.

Don’t worry. I’ve been there. And the good news is …

Memory Improvement Exercises Make Everything Better

It’s true. It’s not just about improving your memory. It’s also about bringing a higher level of fitness to your mind.

But the truth is that the science just doesn’t stand in favor of apps for exercising your memory.

Far from it.

Worse, companies have even been punished for some of the claims they make about the memory improvement an app can make possible.

Stop wasting your time on memory improvement apps.

Mind you …

I have discovered one that I think is worth your time and I’ll be talking about it later this year after I gather some more experience with it.

But for now – and even if you take up the app I’m using now in the future – you never need memory improvement apps in order to complete the best memory improvement exercises in the world.

Let’s dive in to my Top 5 faves.

5. The Gary Small Memory Improvement Exercise

It’s been awhile since I interviewed Dr. Gary Small, author of  the excellent book, 2 Weeks To A Younger Brain.

My favorite exercise from the book involves a simple exercise that will amaze you. You not only feel your memory improving over time, but you get a clarity boost too.

All you have to do is pay attention to people in the world.

Pick one of them.

Notice four details.

Then, later in the day, recall that person and the four details you noticed.

For example, the other day I chose a man I saw on the way to the gym. He wore a red scarf, black jacket, held his key in his hands and had scuffed brown shoes.

Don’t Try To Memorize!

This is important: I didn’t try to memorize these details.

Instead, I just noticed them and asked my brain to pay attention.

Then, on my way home from the gym and once again later in the day, I recalled those four details.

It’s such a simple exercise. Better than all the memory improvement vitamins in the world.

And it feels so good.

I’ve played a lot of memory improvement games and not a single one of them created nearly as much pleasure.

Best part:

You don’t have to stop with just one person. You can do this memory exercise all day long and really stretch yourself.

For example, when I got to the gym, I made it a point to notice four things about the woman at the desk who took my card and gave me my wristband.

I noticed the grooming of her eyebrows and the colors of her sweater, jogging pants and shoes.

And that made me more present.

Something we all need to be practicing. We know that meditation is good for the brain, and this exercise, although not a form of meditation, relates to the practice because of how it keeps you aware of your surroundings. Instead of being lost in thought, you’re actively paying attention to the world and the things you encounter in it.

4. Memorize Information From A Book

But not just any information.

Information that matters. Information that enhances the experience or even helps you make the world a better place.

For example, some of us are sloppy readers. Because character names are repeated so often, we never bother to memorize them. That, or the authors focus our attention on the in order to ensure that we instantly remember them.

But what if we made it our goal to actively practice our memory by making some memory improvement exercises from the characters?

For example, you can modify the Gary Small memory improvement game. Even if the author doesn’t provide visual details for you to practice remembering …

You Can Simply Make Them Up!

I do this all the time when reading. For example, the novel I’m reading now has a character named Stone Luckman. For obvious reasons, that name is instantly memorizable, especially since you can see the character getting stones thrown at him.

(Congrats to the novelist Matt Eaton of Blank for building an amazing mnemonic into this character’s name!)

But I add details. Like that he’s bald, has a scar on his cheek, wears a vest and knee-high military boots.

Disrespectful to the author?

Perhaps, but as Stephen King points out in On Writing, he tends to scrimp on physical details in his writing because he knows readers go ahead and paint their own portraits of the characters anyway.

The only question is …

Do Readers Remember Those Details?

Probably most don’t. But you most certainly can.

To let this exercise show you how to improve concentration and memory, give yourself a simple test with the next character you encounter in the novel you’re reading.

You are reading a novel, aren’t you? If not, no worries – the same exercise applies to non-fiction as well.

For example, I just finished reading No Limit: The Rise And Fall Of Bob Stupak And Las Vegas’ Stratosphere by John L. Smith. (Nothing like a book about buildings that can be used as Memory Palaces, right?

The Real Meaning Of Names And Your Memory: Why You Find It Hard To Remember Proper Names

[image error]Annoying, isn’t it?

You’re an attentive person and you care about people.

But no matter what, the names you encounter completely slip your mind.

And it happens in a flash. In one ear and out the other. Zap!

It’s not just the names of people either.

We’re talking about the names of:

Pets
People
Places
Months
Days
Holidays
Historical periods
Wars
Books
Vehicles
Events
Institutions

… and even adjectives derived from proper names.

 

The List Goes On And On!

 

The question is …

Why is information like this so darned difficult to remember?

Well, you’re in luck. Although some of the reasons may shock you, today you’re going to learn everything you need to know about exactly why proper names of all kinds of thing challenge your memory.

And as we go along, we’ll solve the problem so that names become much easier for you to remember.

 

Why The Meaning Of Names Fuels The Fire In Your Brain

 

At the most basic level, some names are easier to remember simply because they mean something as opposed to meaning nothing.

For example, The Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall are less challenging to remember than Ostkreuz and Shun Yi for most people because the names themselves come soaked in meaning.

But if you hit a name cold with no base line of familiarity … It slides out of your grip like sand.

Certain names also enter your memory at a younger age than others. Bugs Bunny, Marvin the Martian and Donald Duck all hold special favor in my memory because I’ve been encountering them for years.

But in the John Grisham novel I’m reading right now, I needed to deliberately go out of my way to remember the names of the characters. Names like Troy and Nate are so bland, there’s little for the mind to grab onto. Mnemonics to the rescue.

 

How Authors Trick Your Brain

Into Remembering Characters

 

Other novelists are good at making remember character names easy, however. I’m also reading Blank at the moment.

Author Matt Eaton uses names like Luckman. This naming strategy deliberately attaches meaning to the hero by reducing abstraction to a concrete signal that says this man has a relationship to luck. It tells your brain to look out for signs that confirm or disprove this, making the name instantly more memorable.

On the other hand, the meaning of names spikes in value when Maxine is subtly shifted to Max. This technique asks the reader to think about her name as an object and wonder if she abbreviates it because she’s fun and funky or to give her a masculine edge.

 

The Name-Letter Effect And Your

Brain’s Endless Name Meaning Search

 

The truth is that names usually have no meaning. And in the real world, there is no author in the sky using literary tricks to help you or find meaning in them.

But that doesn’t stop your brain from seeking the meaning of names when you encounter them.

For example, Jozef Nuttin has demonstrated your brain finds the alphabet letters in your name more attractive than others. Now called the , Nuttin’s discovery sheds light on why some people do better in school, gravitate towards certain cities and remember some names better than others.

In the main study, Nuttin presented students ranging from elementary school to university with letter pairs. Some were given random letters. Other subjects were given lists that more closely matched the letters in their names.

In either case, when asked to select the letters they preferred, all subjects showed a preference for letters that were in their own names. Although memory studies don’t all agree, it is possible that the Name-Letter Effect also explains why we remember some names better than others.

 

And It Seems To Appear In Just About Any Language!

 

Note that this effect does not appear to be language-specific. It has been tested in Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish. Other experimenters have tried it with other alphabets like cyrillic and done experiments to see if the effect persists into adulthood when people learn a foreign language that uses a different alphabet or character-set.

Also note that the Name Letter Effect might apply to numbers as well. Although I use the Major Method, I tend to find 2 and 7 easier than other numbers, and that advantage may reflect the fact that my birthday is overloaded with both of them.

 

Sound Has Its Own Sex And Success Appeal

 

There’s no doubt about it. Some names sound nicer than others.

And that appears to have a psychological effect. For example, if your name “sounds” like it belongs to a successful person, you may be motivated to fulfill the prophecy.

So one cool trick for remembering names a lot better you can explore is to always associate new information with successful people. This is why the Magnetic Memory Method teaches you to create lists of celebrities.

When you do this, you’re not just equipped with a “crib” of associations ready to go. You also have the success effect working in your favor.

 

How To Cut Through The Noise

And Remember Names Properly

 

One huge barrier to remembering names is noise. Sound can be crippling when it comes to remembering names. If you can’t hear it, you can’t guess how it’s spelled or properly pronounce it. And that means your brain can’t create proper pathways in the brain for remembering it.

In order to hear names better, you need to practice listening. You also need to monitor yourself for laziness and shyness.

For example, I have often made the fatal mistake of remembering names I didn’t hear correctly and then using memory techniques.

In combination with the Recency Effect, the Magnetic Memory Method is so powerful that the mistake can be impossible to shake. You wind up calling that person by the wrong name for the rest of the night.

The solution?

Ask people if you’ve got the pronunciation right. And then use your correct pronunciation to remember the name.

There’s no shame in asking and it buys you time to overcome some of the other things that make remembering names difficult.

But the ultimate barrier we all face is the lack of inherent meaning in most names.

 

Why Your Brain Always Drops The Ball Like A Bad Juggler

 

When you meet a new person, you’re not just meeting a name. You have the room around you, a face and all kinds body language and unconscious communication.

Plus, names rarely tell you what a person does. Someone being named “Baker,” for example, does not mean that they work as a baker. And if someone says they are named “Glirkzifal Mershkevork” and work as an architect, your brain is going to seize upon what it understands and skip over the information it has never encountered before.

Plus, your brain needs to store the name in a different area than it does the information about the Glirkzifal being an architect. The filtering happens due to something called “plausible phonology.” Even though you likely have never heard the name Mershkevork, your brain accomodates the idea that such a name exists.

(On the other hand, if someone says that they’re a mershkeverker, your brain will do a backflip trying to figure out if such an occupation exists.)

Given the split-processes and the fact that most names have no meaning, you’re in trouble. Unless you’re using memory techniques, you’re bound to drop the ball on the harder to remember information.

 

3 Language Features That Make

Names Easier To Remember

 

Luckily, there are some features and conventions of names and naming that make the meaning of names irrelevant. Understanding these will make a huge difference for your success.

1. Names are both acoustic and physiological.

In almost all cases, you have the opportunity to experience names both in your ears and using the muscles of your mouth. You can also see many names represented in writing on paper.

By simply taking time to notice the different perceptions you go through when encountering names, you’ll improve how you remember them.

2. Some names have “logogens.”

For example, I might say the name Jon.

As a listener of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, you might immediately think that I’m talking about Jonathan Levi. (His , if you’re interested.)

The reason his name would come to mind is because Jon is a logogen within a context you understand.

But I could have said “John” and meant “John Wayne.”

The point is that most names have some kind of logogen in them. To take our friend “Glirkzifal Mershkevork” again, “ifal” and “kevork” are deliberately implanted logogens for real names like Percival and Kevorkian.

No matter what names you encounter, and no matter how difficult they may seem, you can always look for the logogens within them to help you make memorable associations.

3. Phonetic Symbolism.

The meaning of names is often found in sound. For example, approximately half of words that begin with “gl” words are visual in nature: glance, glitter, gleam, glow, glower, glimpse.

Likewise, many “fl” words are associated with light, such as flash, flare and flicker.

In fact, a 1929 study by Edward Sapir showed that there is some relationship between vowels and the meaning of words related to size, speed, brightness, pleasantness and disgust.

For example, listen to how the vowel /u/ helps convey meaning in these words: dull, blunder, clumsy, mucky, muddled, bunged up and bungled.

Many authors have noted the relationship between meaning and sound in naming characters, particularly Charles Dickens and the marketing departments of many companies. And, of course, any time you meet a person, you can use memory techniques to inject your own meaning into any sound. You just need to pay attention to how names sound in the first place.

 

Never Be Satisfied With Your Memory

 

The takeaways from all this doom and gloom about your memory?

You have options, even if the meaning of names is never apparent to you.

One of the biggest option is to simply start paying more attention to language, both sound and physiology. Take time to expose yourself to interesting names and words.

Be disciplined about this practice and extend it to looking at visual representations of names. There are entire branches of art devoted to representing words. For example, check out the Visual Poetry section at Ubu. You’ll find amazing pieces like this by b.p. nichol:

[image error]

But It’s Always Okay To Make Mistakes

 

But even though we should never be satisfied with our memory, it’s important to understand that you never make errors with your memory. You only learn lessons about how it works and how to make it better.

But you need to take risks. And when you forget things, simply explain to people that you’re working on your memory. And tell them that’s it’s not just about your memory.

It’s about the health of your brain.

And that means it’s also about the quality of your life.

You do want a good life, don’t you?

The post appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - Memory Improvement Made Easy With Anthony Metivier.

Digital Amnesia: 5 Ways To Stop Google From Ruining Your Memory

[image error]Annoying, isn’t it?

You say to yourself, “I’ll just Google it.”

Then you do. Get the goods. Move on.

Only problem is …

Next time you need the info …

Thanks To digital amnesia …

 

It’s Gone!

 

Honestly, this condition called “digital amnesia” or Google Amnesia”  … stinks.

Not only do you have a fine brain humming along in your skull. There are also a gazillion good reasons why you should be using it properly.

Yes, properly. Even if you really can just look stuff up online.

The good news is that 2017 is the best year ever to use your memory at the highest possible level.

And this is the year you’re going to make it happen.

Here’s how:

 

You Can’t Annihilate A Problem You Haven’t Defined

 

It’s fun to throw around cool terms like “The Google Effect” and “Digital Dependence.”

But until you’ve spent some time defining the monster, you’ll have a hard time setting it on fire. Or at least using your torches to herd it out of the village.

So what exactly is “Digital Amnesia”?

Back in 2015, the Internet security company Kaspersky lab put out an interesting report on the matter. You really should read it.

To condense the report for you, digital amnesia occurs whenever your mind draws a blank on information you’ve stored on a device you trust.

And as the report suggests, this outcome isn’t always a bad thing. For example, do you really need to remember the thousands of website addresses you’ve bookedmarked (and never visited again)?

 

Heavens No!

 

But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Also included is information like the phone numbers of family members and friends.

And the reality is that by not remembering them anymore, we’re endangering lives as we weaken our brains.

Seriously.

Without knowing the numbers of your loved ones, what would you do in an emergency if your phone wasn’t working? Ask a good Samaritan if he remembers your spouse’s number?

No way, Jose. That’s your job. And you’ve got all the tools you need to get all kinds of simple number strings done when you use the Major Method.

 

How To Suck The Life Out Of Half Your Brain

 

Ever heard of “deskilling”? It basically means that you become less capable over time because you’re no longer using certain skills.

And that can only lead to bad outcomes:

* A destroyed brain

* Crappy employment

* No employment

So how exactly does having Google and your devices remember everything for you destroy your brain?

Simple.

When you develop dependence on technology, the areas of your brain responsible for memory start to decay. Just like the muscles in your body would do if you stopped walking.

 

The Truth About Deskilling Your Brain

 

No, deskilling the muscles of your memory won’t necessarily happen to you overnight.

But one day you’ll wake up and …

Bam! You Can Barely Remember A Thing!

And it gets worse.

Because memory has a sibling.

Concentration.

And as long as you have the Internet at your fingertips, you don’t even bother using your concentration to try and access things you might actually have in your memory.

 

How To Put A Barrier Between Need And Action

 

Instead of instantly searching for information you already know, pause for a second.

Give your memory a bit of space. Ask and you might just receive.

But when you push it away and go straight to the search engines, you’re deskilling your memory every time.

And that means you’re also damaging your concentration.

The good news is that you can improve focus fast with these tips, but there will be more work to be done.

 

Starve The Brain To Rebuild The Brain

 

Yes, I’m talking about destroying digital amnesia by going on an information diet.

But wait! you protest. I don’t want to miss out on –

Miss out on what? More fake news of the impending apocalypse?

Come close, my friend. I’ll show you exactly how to take a powerful, memory-boosting digital detox so you can seriously improve your entire life in the process.

 

Stop Letting The Internet Push You Around

 

Here’s a little secret for you:

I have never once “allowed push notifications.”

So far, I don’t think I’ve missed out on anything of any interest. I could be horribly wrong about that, but I recommend you never accept notifications of any kind in your life that you don’t control.

By being in control of when you’re disrupted, you automatically improve your ability to concentrate.

 

Fight Digital Amnesia Like A Magnetic Jedi

 

For a real Jedi Mind Trick memory exercise, try setting a notification with a positive message for 12:03 p.m. every day.

Then work on remembering and reminding yourself that the notification comes at that time. It’s tough, but doable. Your mind really can track time and remind itself to remember.

(For more cool Mind Tricks like these, check out my post on brain exercises.)

 

Put Your Devices In The Dog House

 

Virginia Woolf famously wrote that writers need their own rooms to create in without disruption.

Well, all humans need their own place to sleep without their machines. Problem is, so many people use their devices as alarm clocks. This sad fact means that they’re checking their notifications and messages before even stepping out of bed.

That’s no way to build a better brain.

Instead, put your laptops and smartphones out in a hallway closet, kitchen or completely other room.

If you need something to wake you up, use an old fashioned analog clock or one of those fancy lamps that slowly turns on over time. That gives you the effect of waking up with the sun and gives you a great dose of light that will contribute great things to your health.

 

Use Airplane Mode Without Fear

 

It’s no secret that I write almost every episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast on my iPhone.

But people ask me all the time, How on earth do you do it?

There’s actually a long answer coming out in a new training I’m putting out, but the fast and dirty response is: Airplane mode.

I concentrate like there’s no tomorrow when writing because Airplane Mode prevents anything and everything from contacting my iPhone. And since all Push Notifications have been disabled, it’s just me, my words and the music.

Same things go for when I’m using The Big Five Of Language Learning in combination with my Pimsleur Memory Technique:

There’s nothing to interrupt me as I exercise my memory. And that means that my concentration muscles grow at the same time.

Remember this simple equation:

 

Exercising Your Memory =

Improving Your Concentration

 

However, don’t make the mistake in thinking that it works the other way around. Concentration is a tool that helps you remember more based on paying better attention. But it’s not a sure-fire guarantee.

That’s why it pays to learn how to use memory techniques. (You are subscribed to this blog and have taken my free video course, right? If not, just scroll up and tell me where to send it.)

 

Cut The Umbilical Cord At Least Once A Week

 

Don’t worry, it’ll grow back.

I’m serious:

The ultimate way to help your brain is simple:

Take entire blocks of time away from the digital onslaughts to which we subject ourselves.

When you start, start small.

Vow to not check your device and stay off all computers for an hour.

Just one hour.

Doable, right?

You bet it is.

Then see if you can’t extend it to an entire 24 hours.

And listen, you’re not getting this advice from a wanker who doesn’t walk his talk.

Hard as it sometimes, week after week, I perform at least one digital fast.

 

What To Do During Your Digital Fast

 

Personally, I like to have options.

But if I were to boil things down to one portrait, here’s one of my fave “digital detox walkabouts.”

First, I pop a blank page notebook into my backpack along with a bunch of colored pens.

Then I pack in my Chinese character book and a deck of playing cards.

Next comes a bottle of water, usually my Soul Bottle.

All that done, I head out the door.

No podcasts, no music, no communications technology.

And when you do this, it’ll be great because it’ll be …

 

Nothing But You And Your Memory!

 

If you’re still with me, let’s play do-as-I-do.

Picture yourself walking from your home to your favorite park or cafe.

Depending on the weather, you go outside some place where you can soak in the sun.

Heck, you might even do some of these exercises just standing on the side of the street:

Or, if you’re doing a coffee and memory experiment or it’s unpleasant outside, you head for your favorite cafe.

While walking, you think about all the buildings you’re passing. You enter the odd shop you’ve never been in and consume it into your memory for use as a Memory Palace.

You notice a street you’ve never walked down before and take it.

Then, when you’ve reached your destination, you get out your supplies.

Since you’re the author of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, you’ll start with a …

 

MMBD (Mind Map Brain Dump)

 

Or you’ll use your blank notebook to do something else memory-related you’re not telling anyone about … yet.

The 5 Biggest Reasons Entrepreneurs Need Memory Techniques

[image error]Entrepreneurs need a ton of skills to achieve their goals.

And let’s face it:

The amount of material entrepreneurs need to learn can be downright discouraging. Just to stand a chance of “making it” requires so much know-how that a lot of people give up.

Here’s the good news:

You don’t have to give up on your entrepreneurial dreams.

You can learn and remember everything you need to know.

And you can recall it all with ease.

But as they say in the entrepreneurial world, a lot of success comes from first knowing your “why.” That’s why in this post I’m going to talk about the 5 biggest reasons entrepreneurs need memory techniques.

 

Don’t Discount Any Of These!

 

Each is important, and you’ll find that the Magnetic Memory Method covers each. If you haven’t already taken the free course I’ve got for you, grab the memory kit and get ready for an amazing memory boost that will impressive the pants off you and everyone you know.

 

1. Not Being Able To Remember Numbers

May Be Causing More Lost Revenue

Than You Can Imagine

 

Numbers overload the average life lived in business:

Conversion rates

Tax percentages

Statistical formulas

Phone numbers

Identification codes

Dates and times

… and many, many more.

A huge part of the success of any entrepreneurial enterprise links directly with how well you can manage numbers like these. You can’t wring more profit out of numbers you haven’t remembered, after all. And you can’t even begin to understand math concepts you haven’t committed to memory.

To get better at memorizing numbers, it’s important that you learn the Major Method (sometimes called The Major System).

 

What Is The Major Method?

 

It’s a way of quickly memorizing numbers by turning them into images.

There are different ways of using the Major Method, but to get started, associate each number from 0-9 with a sound. Here’s what I use based on a standard approach popular around the world:

0 = soft c, s, z

1 = d or t

2 = n

3 = m

4 = r

5 = l

6 = ch, j, sh

7 = g, k

8 = f, v

9 = b, p

But right now, you’re probably wondering …

 

How On Earth Am I Supposed

To Remember All Of That?!?

 

It’s pretty easy – if you’re willing to experiment. I won’t give you an example for each number, but to get you started:

For zero, you could see a giant snake hissing as it eats its own tail. The shape of a snake in a circle resembles the digit 0. The sound of hissing reminds you of the ’s’ and soft ‘c’ sound options.

For nine, look closely: From one perspective, it’s like a ‘b’ standing on its head. From another perspective, it’s a golf club facing the wrong direction and driven down into the ground.

Check out five. If you hold out your left hand and stick out your thumb, you’ll notice that you have five digits. The pointer finger and thumb make an L-shape.

 

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

 

Let’s put it all together.

If you wanted to remember a number like 905, the Major Method gives you several options with these letter-sounds. You’d just need to pop in a few vowels so you can make a word.

For example, 905 could be:

Basel (the herb) or Brazil (the country on a map or the Terry Gilliam movie).

509 could be an image of yourself speaking with a lisp.

590 could be Jennifer Lopez. Make her leaping to compound the 5 and 9 and it’ll be even easier to remember.

This Is Just The Beginning Of Remembering Numbers With Ease

Give this memory technique a try. You’ll find that it does wonders for your memory improvement.

And it’s fun to give your friends challenges, like Jonathan Levi and I have done. Even just a short run of numbers like the serial numbers on a dollar bill makes for great memory exercise in a restaurant.

Just make sure that you’re not totally exhausted – and even then the techniques can still work wonders. Here’s the full story:

I can’t stress how important the ability to remember numbers is for an entrepreneur so please get busy and let me know how you fare.

 

2. A Simple Way To Remember Names That Works

Even In The Noisiest Convention Halls And Business Meetings

 

As an entrepreneur, you meet a lot of people.

And there’s nothing worse than forgetting someone’s name.

It’s embarrassing. It’s crude. It’s unnecessary.

To learn how to remember names, check out this Magnetic Memory Method Podcast and the accompanying illustrations. You’ll find it useful.

In brief, all you need for getting started with remembering names is the ability to make associations. You can create your Magnetic associations in advance or on the fly.

Let’s look at both options. I will ultimately suggest that you learn both … you’ll need them!

 

The Magnetic Memory Method Name Crib 

 

Some people who use memory techniques create databanks of celebrities in their minds. That way, whenever they meet someone new, they can make instant associations.

For example, I have Tom Cruise as my instant go-to name when I meet a new person named Tom. When I meet someone named Lars, I whip out Lars Ulrich, the drummer from Metallica. New people I meet named Sarah are instantly paired with Linda Hamilton, who played Sarah Connor in The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

The great thing about having predetermined celebrities and fictional characters is that the associations require zero thought. You meet the new person and then – BAM! – you can instantly see your new pal Tom in a fistfight with Tom Cruise.

The Martial Art Of Remembering Names Method

 

But what happens when you meet someone with a name from another culture? It’s not that the name “Gangador Dianand” is unusual – it’s just not one you’d expect to come across every day.

Yet, it is a real name and if you’re serious about memory techniques, you’re going to want the ability to memorize it as quickly as you can memorize a name like Tom.

In this case, you need to be able to chop the name into pieces and use Magnetic Memory Method Word Division. This mnemonic tool helps with associating images to just the “gang” part of “Gangador” and another image with the “ador” part.

[image error]

Also super-easy. All you need is to see something like a gang bursting through a door. If the gang “adores” the door they’re banging through, all the better. Just think about how you can make that “adoration” visual in your mind’s eye.

What about “Dianand”?

Also not a problem.

Remember Princess Diana? I sure do. And I also know what an ampersand is.

[image error]

All that’s needed after that is a way of getting Diana and the ampersand interacting in a strange way.

And when you put it all together, you can make a little story:

A gang who adores a door bust through and catch Princess Diana smooching with an ampersand.

 

But Wait! I’m Not That Creative!

 

I hear this excuse often.

Here’s the thing:

You don’t have to be creative to get started.

As Benny Lewis points out in Fluent in 3 Months, using these techniques makes you more creative. And the more you practice creating associations, the easier and faster it gets.

Just give it a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how practicing memory techniques rewires your mind and memory for entrepreneurial success at many levels.

 

3. Join The Elite Crew Of Entrepreneurs

Who Can Quote The Facts Right Every Time

 

There’s nothing more impressive than an entrepreneur who has a handle on the facts.

Let’s face it. Consumers are more skeptical than ever. If you haven’t got your details in order and wind up stumbling all over the place to communicate your business knowledge, you have no reason to expect anyone will take you seriously.

The only question is … how do you remember facts?

You’ve got options, but the number one technique to learn is how to create and use a Memory Palace.

 

What’s A Memory Palace?

 

A Memory Palace is a mental construct based on a real building. It can also be an imaginary, “Virtual Memory Palace,” but for beginners, taking something simple like your childhood home works the best.

Remember how we were just talking about Jennifer Lopez and 590?

Well, the way a Memory Palace works is that you would place an image of her leaping all over the place on the desk in your study. Or you would have her leaping in the clothes washer.

You can place images like Jennifer Lopez anywhere you like, but it’s best to have a strategic way of creating your Memory Palace so that you’re not just placing her any old place and hoping and praying you’ll find your way back to her. Make sure you’ve taken my free course to ensure that you know the best ways to create a Memory Palace and avoid all problems.

Then, when you have some facts you want to memorize, create images that help trigger those facts back to you. For example, a few weeks back, I memorized some information about Canada’s second-ever Prime Minister.

You can model this approach for any facts that you’d like to memorize. It’s easy, fun and will rapidly increase your expertise.

 

4. The Ability To Remember Quotes That

Will Get Everyone Talking About You

 

If there’s one thing that binds entrepreneurs together, it’s the love of quotes.

You’ve probably heard this famous line from Zig Ziglar, to take one example:

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”

As cool as Ziglar’s quote is, it really means nothing if you can’t remember and pull it out at the right time. Entrepreneurs equipped with memory techniques have no problems, however. They can simply use the tools of the Magnetic Memory Method and zip any motivational quote they want into memory and recall it with ease.

The Memory Palace is also the go-to technique in this case. Once you know how to use it, you just need to prepare and organize the quotes you want to memorize. When you hear a good one, you can also memorize it on the fly with ease so long as you have a solid understanding of how to use the ground beneath your feet as a Memory Palace.

 

Wisdom Is Just One Vertical (Or Horizontal) Pillar Away

 

When memorizing poetry using a Memory Palace, the temptation is to work horizontally.

Nothing wrong with that. It works gangbusters.

But for shorter pieces of information, like quotes, the entrepreneur can also try memorizing the words in vertical pillars.

I recommend starting from the top corner of a room and then working your way down.

For example, if you want to memorize the Ziglar quote, you can try seeing Pippi Longstocking in the ceiling corner attacking a jury with a vicious motive. “Pippi” basically sounds like “people” and her having a motive for the attack will help recall the notion of “motivation.”

Beneath that, you can see her bathing in a huge bathtub full of calendars. That will help you remember the core idea of bathing and the calendars will help you remembering that bathing, like motivation, is something entrepreneurs require daily.

Heck, everybody could use a dose of both daily hygiene and continually renewing impetus … don’t you think?

 

5. The Ability To Conceive Of And

See Large Systems Full Of Moving Parts

 

At the meta-level, perhaps the most powerful reason entrepreneurs would do well to use memory techniques is how they get you working with macroscopic and microscopic pieces of information at the same time.

Think about it:

If you’re going to be an entrepreneur, you’ve got to have a handle on multiple processes all at the same time. And you’ve got to be able to see them in your mind at a glance.

What better way to prepare the mind for this need than working with a system of Memory Palaces and information that will make you a better entrepreneur?

Memory techniques not only help you with the skill of seeing the big picture and the granular details at the same time. Having a strong memory distinguishes you as a professional.

If you aren’t already using memory techniques, I strongly encourage you to get on board with them. They will not only change your life, but help you do much bigger things for the people you serve in your business.

That’s the desire that drives you every day and the next level is right around the corner. All you need to get started is a bit of training. Subscribe for my free Magnetic Memory Method training using the “Start Here” registration form above.

The post The 5 Biggest Reasons Entrepreneurs Need Memory Techniques appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - Memory Improvement Made Easy With Anthony Metivier.