“Memory is the most important function of the brain…above all others. Without it, each and every moment, of life, would have little or no connection with other moments...on both voluntary and involuntary levels.”

Memory Project

Welcome…This project was created to offer concepts, which might be of use in the maintenance of overall good mental health, with particular focus on improvement of memory, and dealing with memory loss. We hope it is a tool you can use to get a ‘handle’ on your very own memory process…an opportunity to spot ‘areas’ in need of a little attention. In any health issue, if you can strengthen the body/mind ability, in any tiny area, (even just a little), other ‘areas’ may use the ‘impetus’ to ‘build up’, in other ways…often yielding surprising results!

FAQ’s

Memory Weakness / Memory Loss

The term, “memory loss” usually, refers to any instance involving a loss of information. According to Webster’s, the word ‘amnesia’ is, nearly, synonymous with ‘memory loss’, but that term is, almost, always, reserved for rather severe cases, in which considerable loss occurs, prior to a particular point, in time. Another term, often associated with memory loss, is ‘senility‘. That is, now, classified as ‘dementia’ (which, usually, involves progressive loss of mental ability.). It is caused, largely, by medical problems. Most blame points to Alzheimer’s disease, but many other, possible, reasons include: lack of proper nutrition, thyroid conditions, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, alcohol and substance abuse, etc.

Most loss is much less severe than the aforementioned. Sometimes, ‘lapses’ are considerable, and may be prolonged… Time, between episodes, may be long or short, but, even in cases of minor, casual experiences it may be wise to look for possible contributing factors.

Our criteria, here, for defining ‘memory loss’, is that information that should be forthcoming, (from memory) is absent (for what ever reasons). This may involve ‘erasure’, distortion, etc., deep within; failure of ‘retrieval’ systems (recall, etc); something in between; or, some combination of these.

This could occur during a conscious act of ‘studying’/ ‘putting to mind’, for educational purposes…acts, very deliberate, on our part (usually, for fairly specific aims). Or, it may involve the more casual, everyday need to remember where we have placed things, around the house, work, etc.

Whether this involves ‘failure’ in ‘committing to memory‘, ‘failure within’ memory, shortcomings in ‘retrieval programs’, or something, in between these, is something we will consider, later. For, now, we will approach the entire subject, from some distance. (Note: If, before you begin to read this, you’d like to establish a little more “grounding”, in this thinking, go to: ‘Step back, look at early life’ )

We are… (whether we know it or not), individuals, ‘headed somewhere.’ ‘Where we ‘get’ to may turn out to be good, bad, or “in between”, depending on our activities…and what we do to influence our own direction, and ‘driving forces’ (not withstanding our external environment)]. Those who are ‘up in age’ might say they have been heading ‘somewhere’, for quite a while. When we first arrived, on earth, we began feeling out directions, in accordance with those first little bits of experience. As time moved on, we had, progressively, more experience to draw on, but the primary influences on our ‘direction/driving force’ remained, largely, outside of ourselves (much in the hands of older people: parents, teachers, etc.), until approaching the ‘teen’ years. Of course, we became gradually aware of this situation, and continuously, put our ‘personal’ influence to tests. Discovering actions that seemed to place ourselves more firmly in control, we began to ‘fine tune’ a ‘self-improvement program’…a resulting in a factor that was favorable to us (apart from any real successes that our actions brought us).

Just what, kind of, adjustments we made, from this time on, was in accordance with an ‘action-result’ experience, so much ‘our own,’ that we became very consciously aware of our ‘quest for knowledge,’ and began to look for more. Most of this served as ‘fuel’ for our own, personal, ‘life learning program’. Finding, that much of the most useful information, acquired so far, had come from actual experience, on a personal level, we tended to look for more of the same. Since much of this (‘learning by experience’), first, took place in our early, formative, years, the ‘mold’ may have become firm.

However, although this type of learning has been effective, and is, usually, dominant, our anxiety urged us to continue exploring other methods that may offer more speed. Gradually, we learn that other methods (in more ’structured’ form), can be obtained with help from others. Greater concentration, on our part, is required to receive such ’organized’ data, but we begin to appreciate the advantages. We begin to ‘listen’, and ‘observe’. Such ‘learning tools’ are first used for gaining objectives we choose, in their ’own right’. With improved discipline, we apply them to educational goals on various levels. As we begin to set important ’life-goals’, for ourselves, largely independent of outside influences (parents, etc.), we are more diligent in avoiding new versions of our old ’bad’ experiences. We’ve learned that many of these can be avoided with the information/knowledge needed to: (1) see problems coming, and (2) deal, more effectively, with them, if they do. Soon, we may feel like ‘collectors of data’ (which, of course, we are). We seek out information sources that seem to offer what we’re searching for. Looking beyond ‘immediate’ needs, it is with an eye to our (perceived) future that we search for data.

All of us are unique, so while one individual, in a formally structured/ highly disciplined academic environment, is dedicating his life to human progress (in targeted arenas), another is trying to find answers to immediate/impending needs in his own or another’s life, right now. Hopefully, both will contribute to a better world. (Note: Some while, later, we may find their situations “reversed”).

The importance, of knowledge, becomes even clearer as we continue on our journey. This ‘realization’ may impose itself so prominently, that we consciously decide that “knowledge” (one of our primary ‘needs’) may, nearly, be the most important pursuit! This thought may encourage us to apply “pure logic”, and come to the conclusion that almost ‘any’ knowledge is preferable to ‘ignorance of a subject’… thereby, inviting us to, more freely, allow data into our minds. The problem doesn’t lie, so much, with the volume of data that we let in. The problem lies with the very reason we do pause to consider this!..the fact is: much of what we let in is ‘clutter’, or worse! A lot of (so called) ‘information’, is, actually, counter-productive, or, even, destructive to needed data, previously stored, and may well ‘pollute’ our ‘system’. We can become ‘confused’!

With the realization that we’ve been distracted and have lost focus, comes a need to re-evaluate/re-focus. Valuable time has been lost, so the primary concern is to get on with things, but in a way that avoids such lengthy ‘straying’, in the future. Perhaps, instead of, merely, continuing to push along-so hard, without thought, through encumbrances (that in retrospect, often proved ‘less than necessary‘)…it might be good to utilize more foresight! Creating and utilizing a “model”, should be an improvement! Of course, “adjustments” will be needed, along the way, but that is minor, when compared to “major, structural re-engineering”!

And, so, we continue through life, making as much progress as we can. From successes, that come, we may adopt ‘proven formulas’ for success. When, unsuccessful, we pause to “re-group” our thoughts and methodology.

Pause, now, to consider some of our applications of ‘memory’ to achieve various goals. ‘Memory’ is used, by our brain (on behalf of ‘body’, ‘mind’, and ‘soul’). Most of this does not take place on a conscious level. Therefore, we do not give much thought to the process…we ignore…take for granted…fail to notice, or are pre-occupied, etc. Should we find fault, with ourselves, for this behavior/attitude? For the most part, probably not, but realizing that many mental processes don’t always require our ‘personal (conscious) attention’, we may (Go to next page…)

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