Mind: Don’t Forget It
Savor Life Memories: Although our memories are based on what we see, hear, taste, smell & feel, they are not an ‘exact’ recount of what actually happened. A memory is an interpretation of what the mind chooses to retain from a life experience. Memories fuel our current character & personality. That’s why it is important to create new memories that foster the character & personality that brings us enjoyment. Participate in social circles & activities that generate the memories that your future self will savor.
Mindful Positivity: The mind is constantly looking for abnormalities & problems that it can try to solve. For instance, when we stumble, we become more aware of how we are walking. When we let our minds ponder negative thoughts without acting on solutions, we strengthen negative thought patterns. In order to break these patterns, we need to practice mindful positivity. A daily practice of expressing gratitude brings awareness & appreciation to simple things like our ability to read, to move & to share our lives with others. Start your day by appreciating the things that you have and would miss if you did not have them.
Memory Labels: When something brings us joy, we need to use our senses to label the happy moment. When we associate unique sensations (see, hear, taste, smell, touch) with happy events, we make those events more memorable. By doing this, we take an active role in memory-making by labeling or “encoding” moments of joy. Being conscious of how we encode these moments helps us to get better at collecting happy memories & creating a happier life.
Who Are You?: We decide if we are victims of our past or champions of our future. Write down all the characteristics & traits that you admire in other people. Then, create daily practices that generate memories related to the person that you want to be. If you don’t know where to start, try: 1) Helping a family member/friend, 2) Giving sincere compliments to others, 3) Express compassion, 4) Listen & support others in need or 5) Smile & hold a door open for a stranger. Daily practices help us become the people that we want to be.
Mind Reader, Not: We are not mind readers. When we assume that we know what others are thinking, we need to take a moment to reflect if we are having honest conversations. Honest conversations remove doubt about what is being said and what is being heard. And, when there is conflict, attempts to mind read can distort the truth. Pretending to know what another person is thinking never resolves interpersonal issues. Start by being honest with yourself and ask yourself if you are a mind-reader.
Memory Matters: Memories are based on our perspective & perception at the time of the life event. Let’s tap into our current maturity level to better understand our memories. Then, we can spend less time blaming our past self for current day problems. In doing so, we will be able to spend more time learning from others and taking action to create a positive self-image.