Remembering
We tend to think of our memory process as an album of neatly organized thoughts, experiences, and information.
We conceptualize the process of remembering as a neat and tidy process.
You go to the library, find your memory album, and retrieve it.
A better metaphor for memory is a smoothie.
Your brain takes a handful of stimuli, blends them together in varying levels of chopped, and stores them together.
Some smoothies will spill over time and combine with other smoothies to create a memory puddle (like your memory of being age 5).
One important trait of memory is that the process of remembering recreates the remembered experience within your cognition.
Remembering allows you to relive an experience.
This can happen passively but it also can be a powerful way to regulate your emotions or shift your perspective.
When you have an upcoming challenging conversation, remembering a grateful moment will shift your frame of reference.
If you feel stuck or lost, remembering moments where you felt clear and purposeful can remind you of your innate strengths and contribution.
Remembering is more than a process of recollection, it is a function of pivoting your perspective.
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the coffee, it’s so delightful,
- Morning Cup