Hey everyone. I am continuing the series on improving your memory and learning according to Kevin Horsley from his book, Unlimited Memory. Today I will be doing a breakdown of chapter 5. Lets get to it...
Kevin Horsley starts this chapter by asking the question, "have you ever gotten to the bottom a page that you were reading and ask yourself, 'what did I just read?' The reason this happens is because you never brought the information to life." People that learn quickly or have so-called "photographic" memory apply their creativity to everything they learn. They may either have learned how to do this in the past or they have been using certain principles naturally and unconsciously.
Sound is very limited because it doesn't attach easily to other memories. A sound is also always sequential; if you want to remember something with sound you have to start at the beginning and work your way through the information. However, when you see information as an image in your mind you can jump in and out of the information, and therefore, improve your understanding too. Your mind is like an internal movie screen on which you can ask it to produce information. This is how we think and learn effectively. Your brain converts lifeless information into pictures and ideas.
As neuroscientist John Medina says, "Hear a piece of information and 3 days later you'll remember 10% of it. Add a picture and you'll remember 65%." Learn to use your imagination; it is a learned skill and not a natural talent. The more we turn information into images or mind movies, the more we will remember and comprehend. One method that helps is the "SEE" principle. This acronym stands for Senses, Exaggeration, and Energize.
Senses:
When you utilize your senses you experience more of life and you remember more. If you train your senses you will be using more of your brain, and if you can learn to engage as many of your senses as you can then you will automatically improve your memory.
Exaggeration:
Make your images larger or smaller than life. What is more memorable: an elephant or an elephant wearing a pink bikini?
Exaggerate with humor to tickle your mind. There is no scientific evidence that proves learning needs to be serious. Have fun with your learning and create some positive exaggerated learning memories.
Energize:
Give your pictures action. Create movies in your head. Bring life to your memories. Make your images act in illogical ways.
When you are reading, or hearing something, focus on all the SEE principles and imagine it's a movie. Your imagination is the place of all your memory power. You can turn all complex information into something meaningful and memorable by turning it into images. In the beginning you will need to work on this skill. Invest your attention at first until it becomes a habit. The greatest secret of a powerful memory is to bring information to life with your endless imagination. Memory is not a thing that happens to you; you create your memories. You can make any information into something more meaningful. Memory methods improves your creativity, enhances your memory, and your humor too.
Well that is all for now. Thanks for stopping by and I will see you again soon.
