| A paradigm
is a model or example that helps us understand something complex.
I want you to consider re-thinking your paradigm of what you believe
memory to be. The reason is that memory is the playing field where
the game of creativity takes place. Without it you can’t be
creative and neither can you know what being creative is. Let me
explain.
There are two types of memory, long
and short. Short term memory holds data for up to 30 seconds and
can only retain it after that by constantly re-entering it. This
is why you forget a telephone number just after looking it up (unless
you keep saying it).
Long term memory is associations.
Nothing can exist in your memory unless it’s connected to
a multitude of other things: it’s colour, taste, time, sounds,
emotions, history, people, places. You can’t have a thing
in memory (a memorand) just floating around, it has to have a place
with in the network of associations. But that ‘place’
is not a ‘pigeon hole’. This is the first part of the
memory paradigm that we need to re-consider. Our memory does not
work like a computer which stores lists of data which can be wiped.
The memorands in our memory cannot be wiped, but their associations
can be reconfigured.
Now, do you feel you have good or
bad memory? Most people assume they have a bad memory, but in fact
they don’t. That’s like saying you have a bad hope or
a bad electricity in your mains. There is no such thing as good
or bad memory - only untrained memory.
If you have ‘forgotten’
something you’ve somehow messed up the process of Recording,
Retaining or Retrieving the information. Usually it’s the
first one, Recording (you didn’t hear the person’s name)
or Retaining (you didn’t put the person’s name with
associations into your long term memory) or it could be Retrieving
is your weak point (you didn’t store the name with relevant
associations so can’t recall it easily, although it is ‘in
there’.
Can your memory be full? No, since
associations can be infinite. Experts on memory suggest that there
is no limit to human memory apart from the paradigm that creates
limitations. Memory is a process not a ‘thing’. In fact
I would go as far as saying you do not even have a memory, you ‘do’
memory, it’s an activity. Experts have also done experiments
that have discovered that supposed long-lost memory is actually
still there, just temporarily inaccessible.
Where is your memory? This may start
to sound a little metaphysical but hang in there - we assume our
memory is in our brains, where we also assume our ‘mind’
to be. Think about this - there is no evidence to suggest this is
the case. No really, there isn’t! We surmise it is there,
we extrapolate that it’s there, we have a theory that it is
there. Have a think for a moment where else it could be. (This is
easier if you play a musical instrument - it app ears that your
fingers know what to do.) Then think about this: if you smashed
your tv during the news, would you assume that the newsreader was
dead? No, the broadcast would continue but you wouldn’t be
able to receive it, that’s all. It’s just a theory,
but no better than the one we have. (If you have proof of where
memory is or where the mind actually is you deserve the Nobel prize.)
So how about this for a new paradigm:
You have an excellent memory, capable of unlimited storage and fantastic
feats of recall and free association from your entire human experience.
That’s much, much better. Thanks for the memory!
If you want to read more about memory
and how it works in relation to creativity, I’ll be publishing
an ebook on the subject in July so stay tuned. Next month is the
half way point of the year so we’ll be looking at some weird
secrets to goal setting - why not revist you New Year's resolution
wish-list and make them happen. |
