You Can Learn to Remember: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life pdfdrive com

the art of concentration
O
ne of the biggest enemies to perfect recall occurs within the first few seconds
of our attempts to memorize. The problem lies not with our having an innately

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bad memory (we all have a good memory, most of us have merely forgotten how
to use its full potential), but with our levels of concentration. To concentrate is to
notice what we see, to listen to what we hear, to feel what we touch, to savour
what we taste and smell, and to be mindful of what we think. The secret of
concentration when formally memorizing is to focus fully on the information
that we are being told or the experience that we are having, while at the same
time allowing our brain to make appropriate associations – for example, the
mental picture of the places that we have preselected according to the locus
principle. During this process the data passes from our short-term to our long-
term memory, where it is stored ready for us to recall as and when we want it.
The crucial thing here is the ability to focus. We might think that we are
able to concentrate on more than one thing at once – say, reading a book and
watching a news item on television. However, scientifically, such split focus is
impossible. If we try to do two things at once, our attention flits back and forth at
lightning speed between the two, and we concentrate fully on neither. When you
attempt a purposeful memorization, it is important to focus on the items and the
system by which you remember them, without allowing external stimuli to
influence your concentration. The mind is capable of 100 per cent concentration.
I practice meditation to train my mind to be fully attentive. When I memorize, I
recapture the focus that the practice gives.
a memory meditation warm-up
EXERCISE FIVE
When you use memorization techniques such as those described in the next
chapter, you will need to be able to slow your brain waves to a state of full
concentration. Practice by following this meditation exercise.
1. Choose a quiet room for your meditation, where you will be undisturbed.
Place a cushion on the floor to support your neck and lie down on your back.
Keep your arms loosely at your sides, palms up. Let your feet flop outward
naturally.
2. Close your eyes. Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nostrils. As you
breathe in, your diaphragm should expand, raising your abdomen then your
chest. Exhale slowly through your mouth. Continue breathing in this manner
throughout the meditation.

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3. Focus your attention on the imaginary space just behind your eyes. Imagine
that a small, bright light is floating there. Channel all your attention into the
light.
4. Imagine that the white light is expanding and shrinking with your in-and out-
breaths. In your mind’s eye, watch it glow brighter as you breathe in and dim as
you breathe out. Stay focused like this for as long as you feel comfortable. Try to
practice a meditation such as this at least once a day, to encourage your powers
of concentration.