How to improve your memory mastery

As I get older, I’ve found I have more and more challenges with my memory. I would find myself joking around and saying things like, do you think I have early-onset dementia?

It was a little concerning.

I started to do some research and found a man by the name of Jim Kwik. Jim is the founder of Kwik Learning and an expert in memory improvement. He touts himself as the #1 brain coach and has countless books and programs.

I decided to try his program — Unlocking Your Super Brain.

The program was packed with useful information, and I would like to share a few key takeaways with you.

Most exciting, Jim’s research has proven that there is no good memory or bad memory, there is only a trained memory and an untrained memory.

Your memory is not fixed.

You don’t have a memory, you do a memory.

Just like, you don’t have creativity, you do have creativity.

It’s a practice just like anything else.

And this is GREAT news! Everyone can improve their memory! One-third of your memory is biological, and the other two-thirds are completely under your control. There are many things in your lifestyle that can contribute to your super brain. There are the obvious; a good brain diet of healthy foods, nutrients, exercise, a clean environment, brain protection, and stress management. Learning new things is a huge contributor to advancing your brain, as is, surprisingly, having a positive peer group. It makes sense when you think about it because, let’s face it, you become who you hang with.

One of the less obvious things is something Jim calls killing ANTS. He says it is imperative to KILL the ANTS from your life.

ANTS is an acronym, a common memory technique for remembering words — ANTS stands for Automatic Negative Thoughts. You must stop any negative thinking toward yourself.

Your mind is always eavesdropping on your ‘self-talk’.

Your brain is a supercomputer, and your ‘self-talk’ is the program that will run it.

Tell yourself you are terrible with directions. You got it — terrible with directions.

Tell yourself and others you never remember people’s names — your brain says, check, never remembering names, that’s my thing.

You tell yourself you have a horrible memory, done, those thoughts become unconscious programs for your mind.

When you argue for your limitations, when you mentally and verbally embrace them, then you get to keep them.

Remembering People’s Names

Many of us could use help remembering names, and Jim has a great technique for this. He developed an acronym to remember his name tips. He calls it — BE SUAVE

B — Believe. If you believe you can or believe you can’t, you are right. Eliminate the negative ‘self talk’ and replace it with empowering talk. Believe me, you WILL remember people’s names.

E — Exercise. Practice what you are learning.

S — Say. Say the person’s name — Gilberto, it’s nice to meet you.

U — Use. Use the name in conversation. Remember to use and don’t abuse, drop it in where appropriate.

A — Ask. Ask them about their name. What does your name mean? Where is it from? Are you named after someone? Is there a story behind your name? Asking about a name is powerful.

V — Visualize. You remember what you see, so turn that name into a picture. The more ridiculous the picture, the better. Meet Mike; you can picture him getting crazy, rock star style, with a microphone. For example, when I meet a Justin, I’m a fan of Justin Winery, so I would picture Justin holding an enormous bottle of Justin Wine and trying to drink it straight through, wine running everywhere. When I met Rita recently, I had a childhood friend in the Brownies named Rita, so I pictured the two of them skipping together through a field of flowers in brownie uniforms. I’ll never forget their names. Visualization is one of the most powerful tools in your tool bag.

E — End. End with their name — Leslie, have a wonderful day, and I hope to see you again.

The most important thing to remember is that memory is the power of association. Turn what you want to remember into a picture.

The bottom line is that we have the power to create new brain cells and activate a memory that is more powerful than what we’ve previously experienced. This is very exciting! Pay attention, practice active listening, practice visualization, and then crush, destroy, and replace any story of limitation in your head moving forward.

Wishing you all a blessed memory.