Daddy, I forgot the answer
“Daddy, I forgot to write the answer. I knew it well,..” unable to control his tears, my son Majo was stuttering with sobbing words.
“I knew it. But just forgot when I began to write.”
Majo was studying in the elementary school. He was struggling hard with his memory. I know he is a hard worker. He works hard with his studies. He memorizes a lot. But when he sits to write the examination, his brain becomes a blank sheet. He becomes nervous, much depressed and forgets everything .
What is this memory?
Can we improve it?
What is Memory?
Memory is the ability to remember something that one has learned or experienced. It is the indispensable part of every learning process. Without memory, we may lose the richness of our life, i.e., the experience or the pleasure of halcyon remembrance as well as the sorrow of our lonely experience. Memory is a great gift of nature and it plays a vital role in every life.
A scientific study says that inside our brain there is an emotional brain, built differently from the rest of the neo-cortex, which is the center of language and thought. Language and cognition have limited access to the emotional brain. Memory has a very intimate connection between the emotional brain and body's physiology.
Emotional Brain
The emotional brain controls everything that that governs our physical well being, as well as much of our body's physiology. It also controls our systems like the heart, hormones, blood pressure, digestive and other systems. Emotional disorders may result from dysfunctions in the emotional brain. These dysfunctions affect memory and learning. By reprogramming the emotional brain many a memory problem can be solved easily.
How To Reprogram The Emotional Brain
The important factor of treating emotional memory is to reprogram the emotional brain so that it adapts to the present instead of continuing to react to past experiences. It is, by all means, more effective to use methods that act through body rather than to use approaches that depend entirely on language and reason. . It is a consoling fact that the emotional brain contains natural mechanisms for self healing.
Stress is the most dangerous factor which robs one of brain power. It literally destroys the brain regions that are very important for memory.
Fight With Stress
Stress affects the brain in physical, biochemical and hormonal levels. When we are in stress, a special variety of hormones called glucocorticoids, which are the stress hormones, flood our bloodstream. They destroy the important structures of our brain and that is how our memory is affected.
Two things are involved in the development of memory. They are: relief from stress and the methodical practice of memory habits. Both can be achieved by proper exercises and constant efforts.
Some Exercises To Fight With Stress
There are various relaxation techniques which can help us fight with stress. Yoga prescribes many relaxing asana which can be adopted easily. Most of them are deep breathing exercises. They expel the bad energy stagnated in our body, refreshing the whole system.
Anxiety is closely linked with stress. To cite an example, the examination phobia, which creates uncertainty and unpredictability of results, makes mind run fast and lose its balance. Yoga exercises calm down the excited mind and help overcome the stress caused by this anxiety.
Improve Memory Skills
Memory can be improved and sharpened. A good memory promises good knowledge, which in turn brings success like better scores in the examinations! Just keep in mind the following five tips for an effective memory.
Good Diet Habits
Memory and diet habits are inevitably interlinked, both quantitatively and qualitatively. We all know that a healthy body builds up a healthy mind. So keep the body free from diseases by adopting good diet habits. In order to make best of your potential, always take light, digestive and nutritious food which contains all the requisites necessary for health.
Sound Sleep For Good Memory
Sleep preserves memory. After an intensive study, the mind needs sometime to recall what has been studied earlier. It is not advisable to overstrain it y other activities. Rather, it is better to give some rest to the mind. Sleep gives the best rest to the mind.
Moral Inspiration Boosts Memory
Perspiration as well as inspiration are necessary for improving memory. It can be acquired by training and experience. Elders can be of much help in this.
Interest Builds Up Memory
Involve yourself in the subjects with great interest. If you lose interest in the subject matter, studying it becomes monotonous making things worse. If you are interested, it will become easy to learn and remember. Development of interest is a psychological phenomenon which requires internal persuasion but not external pressures.
Mnemonics For Memory
It is learning with easy things of remembering. Mnemonics are the word or sentences which convey the meaning of the different associated terms concerning with the topic or subject under study.
Memory To Our Success
It has been observed that an average person uses only ten percent of his normal memory. The importance and the part played by memory in learning process is well recognized. Hence it has become a necessity on us to develop and make use of our memory. Let us take positive steps to improve our memory.
