Category Archives: Managing Your Memories

Would you go to a movie you hate over and over again?

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33657235 - dog watching a movie in a cinema theater, with soda and popcorn wearing glasses

Do you ever find yourself replaying scenes from past conversations or situations?  Maybe you replay an argument or conversation and become upset all over again.  Maybe you replay what you said or did and feel embarassed or guilty.

 

You find you keep gravitating back to the same scenario over and over again.

Why?  Would you go to a movie you hated over and over again?

No, you wouldn’t!!

Stop yourself from repeating those conversations and situations that just cause uncomfortable feelings.  Learn what you can from them and then move on.

Just tell yourself–

  • STOP IT!
  • NO, I’M NOT GOING THERE!
  • IT’S DONE AND OVER–I DON’T NEED TO KEEP REHASHING THAT!
  • THE PAST IS IN THE PAST!
  • IT’S TIME TO LOOK FORWARD!

Some people spend so much time in the past that they truly can’t enjoy the present moment.

Research shows that people only spend about 50% of their time on the present moment.  The rest is spent on the past or the future.  Research also shows that the happiest place to be is in the present moment.

So, if you’re spending a lot of your time ruminating on the past, LET IT GO, and focus on the present moment!

If you were going on a trip and you spent the majority of your time looking out the rear view mirror versus looking forward out the windshield, what would happen?

You’d probably get in a wreck before you ever reached your destination!!  The same is true in life.  If you spend too much time thinking about the past, you’ll probably have more “wrecks” than “happiness and success.”

Continually make an effort to LET THE PAST GO and live in the PRESENT MOMENT!!

 

 

 

Your Brain on Google!

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Your Brain on GoogleJust like Google is a powerful search engine, so is your brain!  When you enter key search words in Google, within a fraction of a second, Google will come back with search results.

If you Google your brain with the key words, “times in your past that prove you are inferior to just about everyone else,” it will come back with those memories and experiences.

“Recall how you failed when you did”……”Remember what your teacher told you in the 6th grade about your inability to”…….”Remember when your Dad told you that you’d never be able to”……”Remember when you overheard those people talking about you”……”Recall when you embarrassed yourself by”……

If you do a brain google search for:

  • Times you’ve failed
  • Times you’ve embarrassed yourself
  • Times you’ve said something stupid
  • Times you’ve made a complete idiot of yourself
  • Times you’ve looked terrible

You will find them!  We all have distressing memories and experiences! We are human!  It is normal!

How does brain Googling these make you feel?

Sad, depressed, guilty, or like a failure?

 

Suppose you do a brain Google search for all the times you have felt successful and adequate, all your past experiences that made you feel confident in yourself?

Just like Google, your brain will go to work and find the information that matches your search criteria.

“Recall the time you did an excellent job on”…..”Remember how confident you felt when you”…….”Remember when your teacher noticed how you excelled at”……”Remember the time when your parents were so proud of your ability to”…..”Remember how much effort you put into….and how well it turned out”…..

So, if you do a brain Google search for:

  • Times you’ve had a blast
  • Times you’ve been proud of your accomplishments
  • Times you had great memories with family and friends
  • Times you looked and sounded like a million bucks

You will find them! We all have wonderful, confidence building memories too!

How does Googling these times make you feel?

Proud, happy, loving, or excited?

Here are two ways to use your Google brain to build your confidence!

1.  Destroy negative experiences before they become mental monsters!

We ALL have embarrassing or distressing memories (mistakes we’ve made, words that hurt us, disappointments in ourselves, failed relationships, guilt, betrayal by a friend, mistreatment by a loved one.) A person can make a mental mind virus out of almost any unpleasant happening by reflecting on it hundreds of times until it becomes a giant obstacle. Brain googling negative experiences is a way to humiliate, punish and diminish yourself.  It breaks down your confidence and paves the way for difficulties in life.

2.  Make a conscious effort to Google pleasant, positive experiences.

Build your confidence and pave the way for a smoother life by brain Googling the times in your life that make you feel good!

Remember, we all have bad experiences but you can make a conscious effort to Google the good ones!