You Actually Remember More Than You Think
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Outline
Introduction
The Problem of the Conscious Mind
The Power of the Subconscious Mind
Summary
Introduction
Have you ever read a book, attended a seminar, or listened to a lecture, only to find yourself unable to recall the details just a few days later, even some more general ideas? This worry plagues more people than you might think, with concerns ranging from Alzheimer's disease and ADHD to other memory-related problems. However, the truth is that we forget for various reasons. In fact, we "remember" more than we realize. So, why do we forget?
First of all, we must clarify that some people do have memory issues due to a variety of reasons, from stress, anxiety, and depression to neurological or mental problems. But as we mentioned earlier, we are rarely correct in our self-diagnosis.
The Problem of the Conscious Mind
Our conscious mind is limited in its capacity to remember, forgetting what it deems unnecessary and retaining what it thinks is essential. The problem with this aspect of the mind is that its memory is relatively weak and limited. When we say "remember," we are referring to retrieving information to our conscious mind. Many people believe that this is how we learn and improve, but in reality, we depend on the subconscious mind more than we think.
The Power of the Subconscious Mind
The subconscious mind is powerful, shaping our thoughts and beliefs. This part of the mind is constantly receiving and registering information around us, without our conscious awareness. Research has shown that our subconscious minds are continually processing information, even when we are not consciously aware of it. This means that when we read a book or attend a lecture, our brains absorb much more than we might realize. In fact, our brains are capable of storing vast amounts of information and using it to influence our thinking and decision-making, even if we are not actively aware of it. When someone asks us about what we have learned from a book we read a week ago, we may suddenly feel as though we wasted our time reading something we have completely forgotten. However, our subconscious mind (our thoughts and beliefs) has not forgotten. This is why we read - to change and improve our thoughts and beliefs, rather than blindly memorizing information. Changing our thoughts and beliefs is the key to transforming our entire lives.
Summary
While some people have memory-related issues that make it difficult for them to remember, most don't, but we just underestimate the importance of the subconscious mind. The more books we read, the wiser we get, even if we forget the details, the information is already processed and linked somewhere in the subconscious mind without us realizing it.