names, facts, information, dates, events, circumstances and other things concerning your
everyday life is the measure of your ability to prevail in today’s fast-paced,
information-dependent society. With a good memory, you don’t have to fear
forgetting/misplacing important stuffs and you can overcome mental barriers that hinder
you from achieving success in your career, love life, and personal life.
Your memory is composed of complicated neural connections in your brain which
are believed to be capable of holding millions of data. The ability of your mind to retain
past experiences in a highly organized manner gives you the potential to learn and create
different ideas. Your experiences are the stepping stones to greater accomplishments and
at the same time your guides and protectors from danger. If your memory serves you well
in this respect, you are saved the agony of repeating the mistakes of the past. By
remembering crucial lessons and circumstances, you avoid the mistakes and failures
made by other people.
Unless you have an illness or handicap, a poor memory is often attributed to lack of
attention or concentration, insufficient listening skills, and other inherent bad habits;
however, it can be honed and developed using the right methods.
Many people believe that their memory gets worse as they get older. This is true
only for those who do not use their memory properly. Memory is like a muscle - the more it
is used, the better it gets. The more it is neglected, the worse it gets. This is the reason
_____________________________________________________________ why older people have more trouble remembering than younger ones. However, people
increasing in age can overcome this dilemma and can even further improve their memory
by continuing their education, by refining their minds, by keeping themselves open to new
experiences, and by keeping their imagination working. An important thing to realize is
that different people have various ways of learning. The way in which people learn is often
a factor determining the subjects they choose to study, instructors they relate to, and
careers they select.
Memorization or retention of data operates by loading images, sounds, taste,
smell, and sensation (touch) in a very organized and meaningful combination in our brain.
There are three types of memory.
Sensory Memory is where temporary information is briefly recorded. Images such
as a picture in a magazine and the design on your customer’s clothing are momentarily
stored in the sensory memory. It will be quickly replaced by another sensory memory
unless you do something to retain it.
Short-term Memory, characterized by 20 to 30 seconds of retention, involves a
limited amount of information, and is necessary in traditional processing of experiences
and ordinary data gathering (everyday sensation and perception). For example, you were
taught by your professor some great techniques on how to easily solve complicated Math
problems. The next time you take a Math exam, you may possibly remember some of the
formulas, but it’s doubtful you’ll be able to recall and apply all the methods being taught.
Long-term Memory involves consolidation and organization of complex
knowledge and information for further reference and other cognitive (mental) processing
_____________________________________________________________ such as the application of learning or information into meaningful experiences. Examples
would include your birthday, your father’s name, and your home’s appearance.
Short-term and long-term memories are concerned with how you continually
organize data that are stored in your brain. In short, human memory is like a vast and
complicated yet organized library, rather than a trash can or disordered store room.
In order for you to further develop your memory capacity in various tasks, it would
be helpful if you consider points and ideas in improving your memory. This would make
your retention practices more efficient and sharper. _____________________________________________________________