Us humans have the incredible ability to store experiences in our brain, as well as attach emotional significance to them.
Research has said that our brains can store the equivalent of 2.5 million gigabytes of digital memory, or another way to put it, we can essentially hold as much information in our memory as what’s contained on the entire internet.
Whether or not that’s entirely accurate, we are born with and have access to this fascinating functionality within the mind that has evolved over time and is a powerful tool that we can use to our advantage.
Just think about something in your life ten years ago, around the year 2012.
What do you recall? It could be anything.
You see what you did right there?
Practically without any effort, from out of thin air, a memory.
What’s crazy is that sometimes we don’t think about something for years, or we totally forget about it altogether, and then just like that, a simple reminder and poof, there it is.
It’s inevitable that we all have a combination of positive and loving memories, as well as negative and sad ones.
While we may not have had much control over some of the negative ones that occurred and impacted us, we hold the power to choose whether or not we feed and strengthen them through our attention.
Instead of making a habit of recalling past experiences that don’t benefit our lives and unnecessarily punishing ourselves, we can turn our focus towards the plethora of memories that fill our hearts with joy, love and laughter.
Just think for a second about a moment that brought a smile to your face, another that made you feel appreciated and valued, or one that made you excited or proud of yourself.
These precious memories that are stored within your brain are yours and only yours. You may have shared the experience with others, but nobody can access and feel them in the unique way that you see them through your mind’s eye.
Despite the highs and lows that we will encounter on our journey, we can always decide to look within and recall and feel the emotion that these uplifting memories shine on our lives.
Choose to cherish your ability to remember, as well as all of the memories that have impacted your life and helped make you who you are.
“Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment, until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss