Don’t you hate that sinking feeling?

You know the one.

You crack open another memory improvement book.

You’re excited to take your memory training to the next level.

You’re hungry for the next-level techniques that no one has ever shown you before.

And yet there it is again …

 

Another Useless Memory Improvement Exercise!

 

Seriously. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve read a memory trainer promising the world only to start things off with something like this:

“Now that you know how to use your memory, practice with your shopping list.”

Yawn.

But …

I get why they do it.

It’s called giving the student a “quick victory.”

But there’s a problem with quick victories.

Especially when they’re attached to gains that simply don’t connect.

To your heart.

Your soul.

That part of your mind that craves conquering even the toughest information in the world.

For achieving that, I recommend these books instead:

In other words, you want memory improvement books that give you the ability to …

 

Remember Information That Instantly
Improves Your Life!

 

And unless you’re memorizing the shopping list in another language for developing fluency or helping your brain thrive … life improvement is unlikely to happen.

That’s why you need to forget every memory exercise you’ve ever encountered and try the following instead.

Instead of applying the memory skills you’ve developed to meaningless information or meaningless brain games …

Apply them to information that will make an immediate difference!

How To Perform The Magnetic Memory Method LifeBlood Test

 

Chances are that the shopping list exercise isn’t going to go away anytime soon.

For that reason, let me teach you how to replace it with practice material that actually matters.

The first thing you want to ask yourself is …

What’s the number one thing I could add to my memory today that would make my life better tomorrow?

Think seriously about this.

Go through all your problems and pains and find the ones where memory is the culprit.

When I first learned memory techniques, it was loud and clear:

Philosophical concepts and specific terms.

Things like …

• Pregnans constructio
• Architectonic tautology
• Anagnorisis and peripeteia

Then there was Biblical Hebrew.

The alphabet, vocabulary, phrases.

And I was real bad with remembering the names of authors and information like historical dates.

And I remember one of my professors hated when said, “back then” or “in the past.”

And she was right to hate that.

So I determined to be more specific when speaking about yesteryear in my seminar contributions.

All These Improvements Make Life Instantly Better!

 

And I don’t use the word “lifeblood” loosely.

It make my heart pump with pride, accomplishment and inspiration to learn even more.

Because it’s no longer about half-remembered facts clouded by opinions and beliefs.

It’s absolute historically scientific certainty that I knew what the hell I was talking about.

And it’s so great to know the dates of philosophers and when their books appeared. Your brain makes more connections.

Even without the memory techniques, these mental and Magnetic links help fortify memories further.

And the more you learn, the more you can learn.

And the coolest thing of all is that the brain feels so much clearer. The fog dissipates. A laser intensity emerges.

 

Magnetic Memory Method Lifeblood (TM) =
100% Pure & Concentrated Focus

 

For you, it might not be any of these things.

Your life might improve by appearing at work by knowing more about SQL for an  IT certification.

Or you’re a medical student who needs to know both specific terms about the body, information about side effects and number-based data. You have to be able to look at a person and cross-reference their age, height and weight against dosage guidelines.

Wouldn’t it be great to process and …

 

Remember And Access Information Faster Than The Speed Of Light!

 

Or you might just want to cultivate greater awareness of the world around you by improving your memory.

Maybe you’d like to give presentations better or you’re a salesperson dying to remember those smooth patterns of persuasion your competition knows so well.

You might be a Mason or an actor looking to remember and recall long lines of text.

Or you’re a perpetual student, tired of forgetting. You want to decipher the information you’re studying, but you can’t process the logic of it all.

Why?

Because you haven’t got enough information in memory to contemplate the topic.

And that’s, frankly, what most of us need.

Contemplation.

The contemplation of connections.

The deep connections.

Because when you look at a genius like Elon Musk or Einstein or Frank Zappa or Da Vinci, you see balance.

The balance of the tiny details with the bigger picture.

You need the ability to process both and that level of processing only happens if you’ve got your memory abilities intact.

Take some time and think this through.

Your Most Sincere Desire To Improve Will Guide You

 

If you really want to accomplish your life’s most important goals, the facts and figures matter.

But so does remembering the things you do for fun. It’s not all professional reading. There’s remembering the details of stories that you read or watch on a series.

Whatever you do, you need to find the Lifeblood.

It will drive everything.

The only reason why people ever find anything challenging is because they’re not tapped into their true passion and desire.

But get that sweet fuel at the front of your mind, and it will help you sail past any and all challenges.

 

How To Make Your Lifeblood Impossible To Forget

 

Here’s a friendly tip:

Don’t just think about your lifeblood.

Write it down.

Get it in front of your eyes.

Then talk about it.

Ask for feedback from the right friends (i.e. be careful that you don’t share your Lifeblood with negative people).

Process it through all the representation channels your body and mind have at your disposal.

That will make it more real.

And what’s real gets done.

 

Is This The Secret That Will Launch Your
Memory Improvement Success?

 

In Christopher Marlowe’s excellent The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, we hear the famous line:

“Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships, / And burnt the topless towers of Ilium.” (Act V, Scene I.)

I’ll leave reading this play up to you, but give you the quote because Helen of Troy’s beauty inspired some of the clearest battle tactics of legend the Western world has ever known.

Faustus is referring here to the war that involved the Trojan Horse. And in many ways, that strategy is a great metaphor for what we’ll use to slip any information you want into your long term memory.

 

But You’ve Got To Have The Desire To Win!

 

And the fuel comes from knowing what you’re losing each and every minute you delay on taking action.

Poor Faustus sold his soul for access to knowledge and paid a terrible price.

But you have only the work of knowing what you want and using the tools of memory like a Trojan horse to slip beyond all objections. Straight into the center of your core desire.

To all due respect to my fellow memory trainers, that’s not likely to happen often by memorizing a shopping list.

But information for college?

For enjoying the ins and outs of wine?

For recovering from brain damage so you can have a medical career?

For passing the LSAT, MCAT, SATs or other qualifying exam?

For mastering complex topics and remembering the key contents of 100s of books so you can comprehend them like a pro?

Follow your gut and link learning the memory techniques with the information that matters most.

And always complete this simple recovered memory Memory Palace exercise to make sure you never run out of tools for using the method of loci.

 

The Information That Matters Now

 

The information that will launch all the passion and energy you need to thrive so your hopes and dreams finally become a reality.

And I don’t just mean “now.”

I mean RIGHT NOW!

Can you dig what I’m saying?

Sincerely,

Anthony

P.S. If you’re looking for my best memory improvement recommendation, it’s this:

The book you actually sit down, read from cover to cover and use (inserting info that matters in place of the shopping list/random items stuff, etc.)

Seriously. That’s the only memory improvement book that matters. The one you use.

P.P.S. And this one reading suggestion could be the most important one you make in your memory improvement life:

The post Why Even The Best Memory Improvement Books Are Wrong When They Teach You To Memorize A Shopping List appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “writing is re-writing”?

It’s an important principle for people learning to write.

Why?

Because there’s a destructive fantasy going around:

The fantasy that the first draft is good enough.

The truth:

 

The First Draft Usually Stinks!

 

It needs revision. Often lots of it.

Believe it or not, it’s the same thing with reading books.

Yes, you can use the Magnetic Memory Method to memorize a textbook. It’s an incredible skill to have.

But often enough … one read just doesn’t cut it.

And there are reasons why. Here are 11 of them.

 

#1: Context Is King

 

Get this:

Once upon a time, I could only afford to take one course at university. I had to work three jobs just to afford the tuition!

Looked at ironically, I was lucky I could afford to take just one course.

Why?

Because all those jobs left me with time enough to complete the reading requirements of only the one course!

All joking aside, I read Plato’s Republic that year while walking up and down the hill to the university. It was all the time I had.

But it was fitting because many of the dialogues that make up The Republic take place outdoors. And although it’s Aristotle who belongs more closely to the Peripatetic School of philosophy, walking around is … walking around.

And because I’m a diligent reader who enjoys the slower process of MMM Bibliomancy as taught in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterplan or briefly here, I let the books I need to read absorb me based on the context of reading.

The second time I read The Republic was as a professor living in Saarbrücken, Germany. This time I read The Republic as an audiobook, also while walking up and down a hill.

But even though the mechanical operation of walking from place to place was the same, I was reading The Republic this time as an educator, not a student.

And instead of reading The Republic in the context of other philosophers (like St. Augustine and Hobbes), I was re-reading it during a period when I was dialed deep into Eckhart Tolle and Wayne Dyer.

Context changes everything and that means the same book was actually very different.

The result?

Context unlocked thoughts about its contents and “unhid” more interesting details to remember.

Alethia for unhiding is a fancy ancient Greek word you’re going to want to add to your collection, by the way. Keep it and context in mind as your go-to rereading strategy. You’ll be delighted by what happens!

 

#2: The Organic Source Of New Ideas Re-generates Itself

 

You know that many of your cells regenerate, right?

Not all of them, but enough that you can make the claim that we have a chronological age and a cellular age.

And if you wait long enough to re-read a book, you’re technically not the same the person as the first time you read the book. Sure, your heart, brain and bones are pretty much the same, but the rest?

A whole new you.

And that means completely new arms, hands and eyes that deliver the book to your brain.

Isn’t that exciting to think about?

 

#3: Why Something Most People Dread
Is Really The Icing On The Cake

 

Most people regret getting older.

I’ve never understood why, but I guess it’s because they don’t value the power of re-reading books.

Think about it:

As you age, you collect more Memory Palaces to help you remember information.

Plus, your pool of imagery and associations to use within a Memory Palace gets larger year after year.

And as you work with your memory, you discover so many resources set in stone that you never discover unless you’re re-reading books.

Put simply, age is a currency. It is traded on the strength of connections. The older you are, the more connections you make on autopilot and can engineer deliberately.

Better be doing some brain exercises, though. You’re always in danger of losing what you’re not using, after all …

#4: How Location, Location, Location
Will Save The Life Of Your Memory

 

Think about this:

When you re-read a book, you can enter a multi-dimensional time-zone portal.

For example, I’m about the re-read The Republic for the third time.

This upcoming re-read is inspired by a conversation I had on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast with Brad Zupp. We got deep into the weeds on matters of memory and philosophy in that one!

And as I re-read it, I can use Memory Palaces related to the university where I studied when I read The Republic for the first time.

Likewise, I can use Memory Palaces related to the university where I taught when I read it the second time with this rereading strategy. That will save me a ton of memory loss from stress.

And oh yes, you’d better believe I’ll be using Memory Palaces right here on the campus of QUT in Brisbane where I live to lock and load details I want to remember from my third read.

But without re-reading this monumental book from my past, all that Location, Location, Location juice goes untapped.

That would be tragic, sad and a complete waste of the constantly renewing cellular matter throughout my body.

What are you doing with your past, present and future untapped Memory Palace potential?

 

#5: Why You’re A Rookie If You Don’t Have Reason
Itself Working In Your Favor

 

I’m talking not just the force of reason as used by skeptics of memory, but also multiple reasons. Clearly defined reasons.

Back when I first read The Republic, the reason was simple:

I’d ponied up for a course in Political Science. In order to pass the course, I needed to read the book.

More than that, I wanted a degree. And I wanted knowledge and all the power and accomplishment it brings.

The second time around, I wanted a few more things.

First, I wanted the initial buzz of pleasure back.

I also needed confirmation that the book said the things I remembered it saying.

Plus, I had placed The Matrix on the syllabus of one of my Film Studies courses. I needed to at least re-read The Allegory of the Cave … so why not check in with the whole book?

And now, I want to revisit that earlier conversation with Brad Zupp and think more deeply about how The Republic relates to memory. After all my research and teaching in the field, I’m excited to see the book from a whole new perspective.

Plus, there’s the whole notion of Virtual Memory Palaces and making Memory Palaces based on movie locations and series. And it occurs to me that the Allegory of the Cave might be one of the best fantasy Memory Palaces one could borrow.

So I’ve got my reasons for re-reading intact. As I teach in the Masterplan, strategy is everything when it comes to improving your memory.

What could you re-read that revives old reasons and harnesses the power of new ones?

#7: What Wikipedia Can’t Tell You About Sequels,
Second Editions And New Translations

 

Yes, yes, I know you can blitz your way through books you’ve read before by checking out the summaries on Wikipedia.

And you know what?

There’s a place for that. I do it too and it’s a great enhancement of information.

In fact, I’ve already make my own little Wiki-adventure through and around a lot of The Republic and its many topics to set the stage for my re-reading.

But Wikipedia is not the territory. It’s not reading a new translations with a new introduction by a scholar with a different perspective.

And it’s not re-reading the book with all the benefits of new context, a new body and new reasons.

Only re-reading the book itself counts as re-reading the book. Until you dive in, you’ll never know the value. And if you’re satisfied with skimming … well, you’ll just have to see if you enjoy paying the price of not re-reading important books. Only time can tell.

 

#8: Old Books Often Have Better Answers Than The New

 

James Clear made the point a good while ago in his newsletter that new books don’t have the benefit of hindsight. Worse:

We simply don’t know which of those books hitting the shelves this week will stand the test of time.

Sadly though … we can make some solid predictions that most will be forgotten within a fortnight or sooner.

That’s why it’s worth not only reading the classics, but also re-reading them. There are reasons why some books just won’t go away and one read often isn’t enough to squeeze out all the value.

Plus, without romanticizing the past, we can say with certainty that life throughout history often offered challenges far harder than what most of us face.

Can we learn about how to better thrive in the face of our “First World Problems” by looking at how people dealt with war, plague and famine in the past?

You bet.

And a lot of those survivors were great literary stylists too. Many are worth re-reading just to dip back into the soul of their wit.

 

#9: How To Experience A Gold Rush Of
OMG! Moments Every Day Using A Rereading Strategy

 

You are studying a new language, right? Because you know how good it is for your health, don’t you? If not, here are 15 Reasons Why Learning A Language Is Good For Your Brain.

Well, re-reading books that you’re familiar with in the language you’re studying is a brilliant experience.

First, re-reading a book you already know in a foreign language helps reduce some cognitive load. You can settle back a bit more because you know in advance where things are going.

Second, you can zero in on features like dialog, descriptions and whatever area of the language you’d like to improve. And you can do it with some feeling of familiarity to guide how you focus your lens.

Finally, you get to “spy” on the thinking of that culture. Ezra Pound called this feature of a language its logopoeia. It’s the logical element of processing the world that is different than sound and imagery.

And in re-reading you get to experience the logopoeia of your mother tongue and the language you’re studying at the same time.

What an incredible treat to give your exercise-starved brain!

#10: Defeat The Shocking Ways That
Digital Amnesia Is Destroying Your Brain

 

A lot of people just accept it. Google and the other Kings and Queens of the Internet are slowly eroding your brain.

It’s called Digital Amnesia.

Sounds scary, right?

Don’t worry. There’s a simple way to defeat it.

It’s called a book.

A real book.

Paper. Ink. You and your body somewhere offline.

And if you make that book a re-read of a book from the past, you’re defeating Digital Amnesia because you’re giving your brain the opportunity to revisit information from the past offline.

And if you’ve read a book on your Kindle device or some other digital reader and feel like you forgot more than you’d like, then re-reading a physical copy is the perfect cure for that problem.

 

#11: How Simple Memory Improvement
Helps You Invent The Perfect Future

 

The last reason that re-reading books is so good for you is simple:

Since you first stumbled across this blog and the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, your memory is already better.

As a result, every book you re-read enters your head blessed with greater potential for being remembered.

All you have to do is use the techniques.

Good thing they’re so fun and easy.

And because you know how to connect information with locations and things you’re already familiar with, each and every day of life has the potential to improve your memory even more.

And re-reading books fuels the engine of memory by accessing the familiar in a new way and from a new angle.

You get to actively direct the future by harnessing the power of the past.

Best part:

It’s never too late to get started re-reading books that you enjoyed in the past!

So Let Me Ask You Something Personal …

 

What book are you most excited about re-reading next?

The post 11 Reasons You Should Reread At Least One Book Every Month appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Go ahead and admit it.

You’re skeptical that memory techniques will work for you.

You might even be skeptical that memory techniques work at all.

I mean … those memory champions could be using mirrors or some kind of technology, right?

They’re absolutely not, but … who hasn’t given it a thought when you hear the incredible results of memory improvement training.

Hundreds of words!

Thousands of digits!

Countless decks of playing cards!

All under the pressure of time, cameras and competition.

Here’s the thing:

As scientifically proven as the memory techniques are …

 

Your Skepticism Is Good!

 

In fact …

It turns out that the more skeptical you are about memory techniques, the better they work!

And over the years, I’ve discovered 3 reasons why skeptics succeed with memory techniques better than anyone else.

Buckle in because if you’ve been sitting on the fence when it comes to using memory techniques …

… or if you’ve been suffering less than stellar results every time you give them a try …

The problem could be that you’re just not skeptical enough.

 

#1 Skeptics Are Ethical

 

Kind of a weird place to start, right?

But it’s true.

Because skeptics tend to follow, in one way or another, the laws of a universal rule:

The responsibility for demonstrating the validity of a claim falls on the person making the claim.

In other words:

If YOU say something outlandish like, “Memory techniques won’t work for me” …

… AND you’re an ethical person …

YOU Will Do Something To Prove That You’re Right!

 

And that’s where the fun begins.

Why?

Because it’s almost impossible NOT to succeed with memory techniques if you’re ethical. And you have to be seriously getting in your own way to make failure even a remote possibility.

 

#2 Skepticism Comes Packed With Determination

 

People anxious to prove that they can’t use memory techniques bring truckloads of determination.

So much so that they’re able to quickly overcome the objections that people with only a passing interest in training their memory allow to disrupt them.

What are these objections?

• I’m not creative …
• I’m not visual …
• I don’t have the energy …
• It’s too hard …

… and a slew of other negative self-talkisms that no true skeptic would ever let stand in their way.

No, skeptics want badly to get at the truth. So they tackle the training with all the due diligence it deserves.

Aren’t you starting to wish that you were a skeptic too?

 

#3 Skepticism Creates Multiple Levels Of Energy

 

Think about it this way:

The fact that the skeptic motors in with all guns blazing to prove that they can’t do it is one level of energy.

But then when they begin to see that they’re absolutely wrong …

A new energy appears.

The energy of total surprise and excitement from getting results! Because lo and behold, these skeptics discover … the memory techniques do perform with ease after all!

And when that second level of energy doubles back to the memory of their skepticism … it grows even bigger!

Why?

Because they’ve returned to their ethical core and accomplished something profound.

They didn’t sit around whining and crying about their doubt.

They went out and investigated.

They picked the purportedly miraculous skill apart and learned it in the process.

And, of course, to really learn memory techniques, you’ve got to also use them.

And when that happens …

 

You’re Hooked For Life!

 

Isn’t that exciting?

You bet it is.

Just like it was for Tom, who attended one of the live Magnetic Memory Method trainings I give around the world.

On this particular occasion … Guilin, China.

At the end of the second session, Tom came to me and exclaimed, “You changed my life!”

To be honest, that bold claim made me a bit skeptical!

So we chatted a bit and I understood he was sincere.

But it wasn’t until the third day that he told me just how skeptical he’d been.

Listening to me talk …

… even before he took action …

… the clarity that the Magnetic Memory Method brings to authentic memory improvement wasn’t opening his mind or melting his heart …

It was creating a plan of attack!

And even in the planning, Tom could see that …

 

He Would Fail To Prove That Memory Techniques Don’t Work!

 

Although … here’s the ugly truth.

It’s easy to repeat the good news that “memory techniques work.”

But that’s semantics.

The truth is that memory techniques don’t work.

Oh no.

Not at all.

It’s YOU who work the techniques. Never the other way around.

You don’t ask a skipping rope to fly in circles in the air, do you?

No! You pick it up and twirl it around your body as you jump up and down.

It’s not magic – it’s exercise!

And the benefits of doing so?

Immense!

But for some reason, many people expect to buy a memory improvement book or course and have some kind of otherworldly, spellbinding transformation.

Well … that’s not so far off the mark. If you work the memory techniques, you absolutely can experience an entrancing metamorphosis of memory ability most people only dream of!

But you’ve got to understand that all memory improvement begins and ends with picking up the tool and using it.

 

And That’s Why Tom Couldn’t Prove That Memory Techniques Don’t Work!

 

He was too determined to pick up the tool and use it to prove that the memory techniques don’t work.

But to do that …

He had to work the techniques!

And so the third day he returned to me and said again, “You changed my life!”

But this time it wasn’t just with the claim that I’d changed his life.

It was with a Magnetic Memory Method Memory Journal in tow.

All the instructions followed to the letter.

And let me tell you …

His first Memory Palace Looked Beautiful!

And on the page beside it, two columns of Chinese idioms.

Not simple vocabulary, but small, complex phrases.

 

And What Happened Next Didn’t Surprise Me In The Least!

 

You see, I’ve encountered many times before.

Not that it doesn’t give me a thrill each and every time.

Quite the opposite. As I listened to Tom recite 20 Chinese idioms off the top of his head, my heart exploded with pride, excitement and the absolute edification that comes with seeing yet another skeptic move over to the Magnetic side of the Force.

I’ve felt the same edification when using the Magnetic Memory Method to memorize Chinese poems.

But oh how Tom doubted!

And oh how he let his skepticism be his prime motivator.

Which leaves us now with possibly …

 

The Most Important Memory Improvement
Question In The Known And Unknown Universe!

 

If you’re not already a skeptic, but you’d like to have the energy of a skeptic so that you can finally get some results, how do you bring the power of positive skepticism into your life?

I’m so glad you asked because I’m unusually equipped to help you answer the question.

After all, back during my professor days, I taught a fourth year course in Critical Thinking for a couple semesters.

And now you can enjoy the broad strokes of that course in just a few minutes.

But be cautious:

 

What You’re About To Learn
Will Improve Your Entire Life

 

Skepticism begins simply.

It begins by inspecting information more closely than before.

Instead of glossing over everything all the time, peer between the lines.

Ask questions.

And think.

And ask you think and ask questions …

Ask more questions.

And go in with a particular attitude when you do:

Expect Specific Answers That Make Sense And Must Be True

 

So in the case of memory improvement, if a claim doesn’t seem quite right (which is often the case in information about memory supplements), go to the source and ask pointed questions.

Expect real answers and don’t be satisfied until you get them.

But please understand that when it comes to memory improvement training, it’s something you learn by doing. So you need to know the difference between inbound questions and outbound questions.

And it’s usually more appropriate in this case questions like:

• Have I learned to create a well-formed Memory Palace?
• Have I used a Memory Palace that I created according to the best guidance I can find?
• Have I used information that will make my life instantly better (like 20 Chinese idioms) instead of practicing with a useless shopping list?

Questions like these cut to the core of the matter and what you’ll find is that the most powerful skepticism for our purposes today are skepticism not of the techniques. We’re talking about skepticism of what you’re doing with the techniques.

And when you get to this point, test the facts against your own experience.

Frequently.

And keep track of the results.

A Memory Journal is one of the best ways to do this and you will deserve massive congratulations.

Why?

Not merely because you’re now using memory techniques.

But because you’ve finally accomplished something truly special.

You’re now living a science-based life.

Because here’s what a skeptic really is (courtesy one of my favorite blogs, Science Based Life):

A skeptic is a person who withholds judgment on beliefs, claims, and topics, until the relevant evidence is examined, regardless of previous beliefs etc. Only under a verification of said evidence will a claim etc. be considered valid.

And notice that it is “withholding” judgment, not refusing to examine evidence.

And in this case, all the evidence you need is in the scientific journals.

It’s in the anecdotal descriptions and historical records going back thousands of years.

It’s in the annals of the World Memory Championships which recently celebrated 25 years. And there are many, many more competitions out there who also verify incredible feats under test conditions and track everything.

But there’s no place you need evidence more than inside your own head.

And the only way to get it there is to simple create a Memory Palace and use it.

You’ll need nothing more.

Except more skepticism.

Because every hurdle …

Every learning challenge you’ll ever face …

Benefits from the force and energy of skepticism.

And so all you need to do is ask the right questions and take responsibility for creating the evidence that will answer those questions.

 

So Now Let Me Ask You A Question:

 

Are you ready to start being a skeptic?

For the sake of your memory and the improvement of mental literacy around the world, I certainly hope so.

And if you’re not ready, let me know how I can help!

The post 3 Reasons Why Skeptics Succeed With Memory Techniques Better Than Anyone Else appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Ever feel frustrated by people with strong memory abilities?

You know the kind. They rattle off names. They know all their credit card numbers. They say, “April 10th, 1972,” not “back then” or “in the past.”

They’re specific.

And make no mistake:

Specificity Makes Your Life Better

 

They feel good when they call restaurant staff by name. They seem to know everyone in a deeper way. Their capacity for human interaction shines.

And when they have to do something with numbers, they do it with confidence. They’re in control. They’ve got it together.

Even better:

When it comes to conversation, they know how to hold their own. They don’t mess around with loose generalities. They don’t waver on the facts.

They’re detailed. Specific. Precise.

And let’s face it:

It Annoys You To Your Core That You’re Not Like This!

 

It’s a real problem too.

All that time you’re losing at work. Looking up the same procedural information again and again.

Nothing you do solves the problem. You’re trapped in a prison of repetition, and nothing ever seems to sink in.

In conversations, you continue to flounder. You can’t remember the names of actors, authors, even the titles of books you know you read.

And the brain fog crushing your memory every time you sit down to do some math …

It’s downright, depressing, isn’t it?

Of course it is.

The Simple Memory Improvement Solution Even
A 10-Year Old Can Master

 

Good news: You don’t need memory championship training to remove these pains from your life.

You just need these 5 brain exercises and a little bit of meta-level understanding of just what makes memory techniques so powerful.

Here are a few reasons.

1) Memory techniques are diplomatic.

Seriously. If you look up the meaning of diplomacy, you get a definition like this:

Diplomacy is the conduct by government officials of negotiations and other relations between nations.

That’s all memory techniques are:

An understanding of the official parts of your memory and getting them to negotiate with one another.

For example, when you use the Magnetic Memory Method, you’re learning a completely new way to think about spatial memory.

And then you harness the power of spatial memory and get it to talk diplomatically with your episodic memory.

There are other “nations” of memory in your brain that the Magnetic Memory Method taps into, but it’s all about getting them to negotiate.

2) There’s no discrimination.

It doesn’t matter if you’re 8 years old or 88. The memory techniques simply don’t care.

If you learn how to use them so the different parts of your memory can discuss diplomatically, you’ll amaze yourself.

And if you need any convincing, check out Tap The Mind Of A 10-Year Old Memory Master.

3. They’re Honest.

There’s no better art in the world than the art of memory.

Why?

Because there’s no wiggle room.

You either remembered the information, or you didn’t.

And the Magnetic Memory Method helps you embrace the power of that radical honesty.

And to do so in comfort while you learn faster and remember more.

Because there are only three things that stand in the way of you and getting amazing results from your memory.

 

Efficiency Is Doing Things Right.
Effectiveness Is Doing The Right Things.

 

That’s a quote from Peter Drucker.

And it applies directly to the biggest mistake that even the best memory champions make.

They don’t practice as well as they could.

Now, you don’t have to aspire to memory competition to enjoy benefits from these techniques.

In fact, as much as I love all the memory competitions out there …

I sometimes worry that they discourage people who stand to gain the most from memory techniques.

After all, if you’re struggling with passing math exams in school …

What’s More Likely To Help Both Memory Champions And… Anyone?

 

Images of a kid just like you rapidly memorizing complicated formulas …

… or someone wrangling long lists of numbers from the depths of a Memory Palace.

Same skills – same diplomacy – but it can be hard for some people to see the connection.

But there is a connection.

And if you buckle down and practice with real information you might actually use in the world, your memory will transform into the most powerful asset in the world.

Take language learning. It’s not only a great way to use memory techniques. Bilingualism also makes for a healthier brain.

 

And You Will Be The One Who Owns The Asset!

 

Of course, having great power leads to great responsibility.

And there’s no question that this can make you nervous.

After all …

Once you’ve spent a bit of time learning and practicing memory techniques …

 

You Actually Have To Use Them!

 

Seriously.

There are lots of parallels between memory improvement and martial arts.

But unlike a lot of martial arts where you learn “fight to the death” techniques you never want to ever use in real life …

When it comes to memory improvement …

Not a day will pass without an opportunity to win!

And that can lead to the third big mistake:

 

Lack of Faith In Your Memory As The Most Perfect And Beautiful Possession You Must Honor With All Your Love And Attention

 

Some will say I’m being dramatic.

But those who have lived a life of memory, even if only for a short while, know exactly what I mean.

Yes, we can talk about levels of accuracy and the black and white certainties of getting it right or wrong.

And yes, we know from the descriptions of even the best memory champions that they experience doubt even when they’re at the top of their game.

And as former World Memory Champion Ben Pridmore has said, his number one tip for anyone using memory techniques is to simply get out of your own way and trust your memory.

Let memory techniques Do The Heavy Lifting For You

 

And never forget the wisdom of Bruce Lee:

No ego. No enemy.

Because memory techniques aren’t working, it’s not about the techniques.

It’s about you.

Remember, this is a black and white art.

There’s no one who can’t use them and there are no excuses.

And if you get past your limiting beliefs, there’s so much more that living a life in tune with memory can bring.

Because when you learn to use memory techniques and carry them with you throughout life, you begin to experience a depth of conversation with yourself and the world that eliminates all fear.

Every problem, every pain, ever doubt you’ve ever had melts away.

And all because you experience a complete and utter shift in thinking about the nature of your mind. You experience that thing called “you” in a new way.

A diplomatic way.

A way that governs the discussions between spatial, episodic, semantic and other “countries’ of your memory.

You rise above it all.

You are the Magnetic King or the Queen of all things that pass in the realm of your memory and your mind.

And all you have to do is surrender yourself to a simple process.

Are you in?

The post The 3 Biggest Memory Improvement Mistakes Even Experienced Memory Champions Make appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Home is where the heart is, right?

Judging by my inbox and all the pains and frustrations with memory I hear …

Maybe not.

I mean, think about it:

You pour all that hard-earned money into rent or your mortgage, and yet …

You’re Living In A Memory-Toxic Dump!

 

It really doesn’t matter how much you like your home. If you don’t set it up for memory success and sufficient memory care home solutions, you’re leading yourself down a path of mental destruction.

And yes, there are things worse than Alzheimer’s.

Such as letting another moment slip by without the extraordinary powers available to you now for improving your memory based on Memory Palace Science.

In addition to all the memory techniques you can learn here on the site, here are 15 more ways that your home is crushing your memory. Avoid these issues and your memory abilities will soar.

 

1. Your Fridge Is Filled With Memory Destroying Foods

 

Here’s a rule of thumb you must not forget:

If it comes with a list of ingredients, it’s probably wrecking your brain.

I know it’s hard these days. Almost everything comes wrapped in plastic and there are additives in everything.

Heck, you can’t even trust your local farmer’s market.

But sticking with foods that improve memory isn’t hard. In fact, it’s one of the easiest things you can do.

And yes, it’s the one time Magnetic Memory Method fans know I think it’s okay to memorize your shopping list.

So drop the sauces and start eating well. Your brain and memory will thank you for it.

 

2. No Mat, No Enlightenment, No Memory Improvement

 

Getting sick of hearing about meditation?

Don’t.

In study after study, scientists keeps piling on all the benefits of meditation for your memory. And the good news is that memory is good for all kinds of other life areas too.

Don’t believe me? Just listen:

https://youtu.be/zP20eBfp2oM

3. No Dedicated Study And Memory Location

 

People say they want to get smarter, but do they act like it?

Just take a look around your own home and point to all the places you go to FOCUS.

If you can’t even come up with one, then you and your memory are in trouble.

Don’t you think it’s time to fix it?

 

4. How Scribbling Can Save The Life Of Your Memory

 

Once you have a place to focus in, it’s good to have rituals. My morning rituals for Mandarin have changed a bit since I first shared them, but the basics are the same.

And a huge part of getting my language learning done involves having an if-this-then-that chain of events.

To help, I’m currently using The Mastery Journal, which is John Lee Dumas’ follow-up to the excellent Freedom Journal.

Why not just use an app?

Digital amnesia, for one thing. It’s killing your memory and your brain.

Kind of like reading from screens is sucking your brain dry of the life it used to have.

 

5. Not Enough Dead Weight

 

Two words.

More books.

Real books.

It’s true:

People can’t remember nearly as much of what they read from a digital device as they can from physical books.

Why?

I have a lot of pet theories, but the important thing is that you make sure you’ve got physical books in your home. Even if it’s just a couple, so long as you actually read them, you’ll be doing your memory and brain a favor.

 

6. Not Enough Playful Romance (And Yes, Sex)

 

If you want to keep your brain and memory healthy, you’ve got to do it.

Often.

But more than just get physical with your partner, you’ve got to be romantic and make love in memorable ways.

How?

Ask questions.

Tease.

Remind your lover of the things you remember and prove that the past of your relationship matters.

Because it does matter, doesn’t it?

And if you can’t imagine it mattering, maybe you need to get checked out for aphantasia.

 

7. Too Much Idiot Box

 

Okay, everybody knows the truth here:

TV has gotten better. And you can improve your memory by watching long form series and making a network of Memory Palaces from them.

But here’s the thing:

No matter how good TV gets, it’s still twitchy.

Instead of helping you extend your attention span, it’s constantly shrinking it.

Not only that, you’re continually being exposed to bad news that create the perception of a negative world.

Well, guess what?

That world doesn’t actually exist.

And if you don’t believe me, just read The Better Angels Of Our Nature by Stephen Pinker.

‘nuff said.

 

8. Too Many Interruptions From Mobile Devices

 

If the TV isn’t interrupting your attention, instant notifications from a dozen or more less than useful apps are probably yapping at you.

Seriously, does the latest post on Facebook really matter that much to you? Wouldn’t you rather be experiencing the benefits of learning a new language instead?

Listen, I use social media too, but there’s a time and place for it and the home isn’t one of them. Try digital fasting and use social media only when you’re out at a cafe or some other place.

My prediction:

You’ll enjoy where you live more than you ever imagined possible.

 

9. No Wheels, No Memory Skills

 

Crazy, but true. I know all kinds of people who prefer driving to work when they could ride.

A bike. They’re not only great exercise, but you can use bikes as Memory Palaces too.

And driving instead of cycling means a few things:

You’re robbing yourself of exercise while polluting the environment.

You’re also robbing yourself of experiencing the world at a deeply infinite level.

You see more when you go slower and that means you have more interesting thoughts to think.

Plus, you’ll discover you have more Memory Palace options in your environment than you ever realized before. These will come in handy when you know how to improve memory for studying.

 

10. Only One Language Spoken At Home

 

This one’s a kicker.

Far too many people live monolingual lives.

Worse, they’ve hypnotized themselves into thinking that learning another language is hard.

It costs time, energy and maybe a bit of money. No doubt about it.

But hard?

That’s just negative self-hypnosis.

Check out The Big Five Of Language Learning and put this nonsense about language learning being difficult to rest.

Your home will become so much more vibrant when you have multiple languages flowing through it.

And that can’t help but be super-healthy for your memory and your brain.

11. Clutter, Clutter Everywhere And Not A Thought To Think

 

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’ve got a fair amount of clutter around me a lot of the time.

But I also spend a few moments every morning clearing it up too. It’s written into my Mastery Journal as part of my morning routine.

And not just the clutter around my physical desk. I spend at least 5-10 minutes arranging the files on my desktop into folders too.

It does a lot to create focus and peace of mind, not to mention a heightened ability to find things fast.

 

12. No Musical Instruments

 

Like language learning, studying music is incredible for your memory.

Not only that, but you can explore music and mnemonics together in many fascinating ways.

Plus, you’re already probably familiar with the music mnemonics they teach in schools.

Why not revive them and put them to some use?

 

13. Not Using Your Home As A University Campus

 

Did you know that you can get university level certifications for free?

Welcome to the wonderful world of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). For more information about these, check out my interview with Barbara Oakley.

Why should you listen to what she has to say about Massive Open Online Courses?

Simple.

She’s the creator behind the biggest MOOC in the world!

She’s also the author of several great books, including the wonderful Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential.

That library I was suggesting you should build in order to ensure that your home stops crushing your memory?

Add MindShift to it.

 

14. Not Teaching The Kids How To Use A Memory Palace
(And Then More Than One Memory Palace)

 

If there’s one crime against humanity that gets the hounds of hell howling louder than any other, it’s this one.

Memory improvement techniques for kids are easy to teach and do so much good for everyone in your home.

Whether it’s learning history, the multiplication table, or just the simple ability to memorize the names of new people, your kids will be much more delightful to be around if you give them the gift of memory.

And let’s be clear:

Introducing your kids to memory techniques shouldn’t be done on a whim. It’s kind of like a Martial Art, especially if you do it the Magnetic Memory Method way.

They don’t call me the Bruce Lee of Memory for nothing, after all.

One of the key reasons for this honor stems from the MMM’s concentration on making meditation part of the memory process.

And meditation, provided it’s free from dogma and mythology, is very likely good for your kids and their memory too.

 

15. Not Using Your Home As A Memory Palace

 

Of all the ways your home is crushing your memory, the quickest thing you can do to break the trend is the easiest:

Turn your home into a Memory Palace!

Not only is Memory Palace creation one of the best brain exercises on the planet, but it does something remarkable:

It instantly quadruples the value of your home!

Why?

Because now instead of just living in the place, you can use it to learn, remember and recall anything.

And that’s more valuable than anything else in the world.

 

Bonus:
16. You’re Not Using The Solution!

 

But then again …

… if you haven’t given memory techniques a try, you wouldn’t know.

That makes me sad, so let me extend this simple invitation.

Grab my FREE Memory Improvement Kit now and start the process immediately. You’ll learn how to create a Memory Palace in 4 simple steps.

After that, you’ll be amazed by all the wonderful things you can do with the simple power of your natural imagination.

Have fun and keep me posted on your progress.

Talk soon!

Sincerely,

Anthony Metivier

The post 15 Ways Your Home Is Crushing your Memory appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.