We live in the age of “Just-Google-it.” Need a quote, fact, birthday or percentage? We lean on our phones for almost everything. Thins we used to remember by heart now live in our iClouds. Well, it isn’t all bad, right? It’s so easy to do everything and I guess, technology is fulfilling its purpose. But, in this pace, we rarely stop to think: Have we outsourced our very capacity to remember?
Source
Not long ago, memorizing facts and figures was a big part of learning and creating. Storytellers passed down traditions by heart to their disciples, who spent hours practicing line of poetry or formulas. That effort wasn’t just busywork; it built strong connections in the brain, helping us come up with new ideas and solve problems.
Now, we hand all those facts over to our devices. At first, it seems great: Why waste brainpower remembering phone numbers or historic dates when a few taps will do? But the more we rely on our gadgets, the more we weaken our mental muscles.
Being a student of literature, it aches my heart when I can’t even think properly. Recently, I read a book named, “Stray Reflections by Allama Iqbal.” Rather than developing my own understanding first, I decided to GPT it and boom, it was so sharp that my creativity died at the spot. Back then, I used to discuss my readings with friends and reddit helped me a lot as different approaches brought new ideas. But now, even, my friends do the same, just search it.
This easy and much needed access makes us a bit lazy in how we think. The struggle, though uncomfortable, used to push us to learn more deeply with passion. Over time, our brains get less practice at holding and using information and that hurt our creativity. Where do new thoughts come from, if we stop storing facts ourselves?
What we need to do is to re-balance, there is no need to cut off this magic named technology. Try small changes: before you search for a fact, see if you can recall it first. Learn a poem, a quote or even a recipe and share it with your friends, community or maybe just record it for self-use. Start thinking afresh, be innovative, be critical. By carving out moments to remember things on our own, we can protect the spark of creativity and keep our minds alive.
In the end, what amazes is this quote from 370 BCE:
“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls: they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is written, calling things to remembrance no longer from within themselves, but by means of external marks.”
-Plato
So, it isn't only a thing of present. We humans are meant to be like this, but one must try to bring a positive change into this society.
Thanks for reading.
Do mention your thoughts.
PEACE🕊️
