The Art of Making Memories
Meik Wiking’s book: The Art of Making Memories is a pleasurable and easy read that gives you the research as well as the practical tips to improve memory recall and memory making ability. Happiness research suggests that people are happier with their lives if they hold a positive nostalgic view of the past.
There’s a growing body of evidence that nostalgia produces positive feelings, boosts our self-esteem and increases our sense of being loved while at the same time, it reduces feelings of loneliness and meaninglessness.
Memories...
... are the cornerstones of our identity
... allow us to travel in time and sets us free from the limitations of the present moment
... shape who we are and how we act
... influence mood and help form our dreams for the future
... connect us with others
Inspired by Wiking’s book, I wanted to share with you 5 key takeaways/hacks in how to create and remember happy moments.
Harness the power of firsts
You always remember the first time you did something, so we can use this to create memories that stick! In the book, he talks about how we usually have a mountain of memories from our teenage and early adulthood years, and then it seems to slow down quite a lot as we enter the repetitive years of working. But it doesn’t have to be that way! You can challenge yourself to keep trying new things. Create a bucket list - Surely you will remember every single thing you check off. Go on vacation somewhere new, or simply try a new food when you’re at a restaurant.
Make it Multi-sensory
Our senses trigger and retrieve memories. We’ve all had a moment when you smell a particular fragrance and it takes you right back to a moment or chapter of your life. Andy Warhol changed his perfume frequently to preserve the memories associated with it. You make memories by association and forgetting may occur because we lack the cues to remember them by. To change this, we can ensure we place something in our experience that can take us back to that exact moment. When you’re having a great time and want to catalog something to your long term memory, become present, tune into the senses, notice what makes the situation unique. Perhaps its the smell of seaweed on the beach you’re walking on, or the song thats playing on the radio at the time. If possible, write down your memories detailing all the information from your senses! There’s a proverb ascribed to Confucius that goes “The palest ink is better than the best memory.”
Create Meaningful Moments
We remember things that are important and meaningful to us. We don’t usually remember the daily grind - making breakfast, going to work, eating dinner etc. But we remember the big days and milestones (liek weddings or births) or smaller moments of connection with people we love and the world around us. For example, I cherish a simple memory from my childhoos when i placed my head on my grandma’s lap one night while she gently stroked the hair behind my ears over and over while we watched TV. I also remember the awe of getting off the bus and taking in the landscape of Yosemite National park. I felt a connection to something much bigger than myself.
By deliberately creating more meaningful moments, we can increase the balance of our happy memory bank account. Celebrate the small wins. Pop champagne before breakfast to celebrate a job offer. Host a game night with your friends and family. Set up the projector and watch your friday night movie in your backyard.Use Stories
“The Universe is made up of stories. Not atoms.”
Memories are remembered often because they have been turned into stories or anecdotes. We shape our memories every day by choosing which stories to tell. By retelling the stories that make us feel good, or that are meaningful to us, it strengthens the connection of the pieces of information making them more memorable. Time seems to be key here - 20 minutes after something has happened you lose 40% of the information from the event. After a day, 70% is lost. So try and retell or write down the story soon after.
Another interesting point from the book was about the power of redemption stories - that is, a story that starts bad and ends better. Our wellbeing is influenced by our ability to form a favourable narrative of our lives and redemption stories help us to do just that. They are linked to higher levels of mental health and wellbeing.Outsource Memories
Probably the take-away we love best here at Lifepix! Wiking talks about using all the tools we have available to preserve our memories. Write, photograph, record and collect. These tools are here to help us remember. At Lifepix, we want to be your hub for all things memories. Record down your stories and memories, collate your photos and build albums and slideshows. We don’t just want to store your memories, but we want you to enjoy them and keep those memories alive.
There was a study I came across recently that was conducted at Yale which showed that the act of photographing allows people to engage more deeply with the experience they’re having which leads to greater satisfaction and enjoyment. So there should be nothing stopping you from documenting those memories each and every day.
Lifepix is launching in 2024 and it’s going to help you store and easily organise all those precious memories you have so you can stop feeling overwhelmed by your mounting collection. Kiss goodbye to the fear of losing another precious memory! Get on our launch list to be the first to hear about our launch.
