The Magnetic Memory Method Podcast

Do you know how often earth-shattering revelations about how to use your memory better come along? Two words: Not often. But when Lynne Kelly's The Memory Code was announced, I knew we were in for something special. I got even more excited when The Memory Code finally arrived (notice that's an Aboriginal art bookmark too for the detail-oriented amongst you.) And now I'm excited to present the first Magnetic Memory Method interview with Lynne Kelly. The Most Profound Memory Resource On The Planet Got An Early Start Scroll up to the podcast play button and listen in as Lynne and I discuss her book, The Memory Code. You'll want to listen to this episode a few times so you can discover and remember: * How a skeptical science writer came to embrace the art of memory by replicating ancient memory techniques. * How the human mind once regularly memorized 1600 hundred plants (while eating less than a third). * The role of rituals and Songlines in memory associations and how Lynne uses them herself. * Why Lynne's associations with her Memory Palace Songlines have become so strong, she cannot relocate from her environment. This point will help you avoid Memory Palace Agoraphobia. * The potential relationship between social inertia and a cure for Dementia (or at least a serious reduction in the number of cases and their severity). * Why your brain is a set of "chemical locations" and how these can integrate with other locations in the world to help you remember. Jesse figured this out in a big way as you'll learn in his Magnetic Memory Method Review and Testimonial. * What we've lost in schools and what Lynne is doing to bring formal memory education back into the curriculum. * What Nobel prize winners have shown us about how and why the brain associates information with locations naturally. * Why the continuous culture of Australia is so beneficial to the study of memory. * The economic history of memory training and why the going rate for one memory song could be exchanged at a very high rate. * Why knowledge is so essential to human survival. * Why vivid imagery in stories and dancing is far more memorable than straight, unencoded information. * The 3 kinds of "Memory Spaces" anyone can use to remember information and get it right – very important in every day education and matters of life and death. * Why some information was restricted in early societies to avoid the so-called "Chinese Whispers Effect." * Why ancient groups of people were not naive or living in clouds of ignorance. Learn how science is helping us discover their incredibly sophisticated ways of knowledge – far from primitive! * The power of multi-sensory mnemonic methods for helping you make fast mnemonic associations. * The importance of playing with the stories and images you create in order to faciliate rapid encoding and long term recall. * The secret skill all children have (one of the barriers that far too many adults unnecessarily let themselves get in their way). * The possible role writing might have in decreasing our visual imagination abilities. * Why you need to memorize based on a firm foundation upon which layers can be built. * Examples of how kids are using mnemonics to memorize physics equations using location-based mnemonics. * How children are learning about art using Memory Palaces that enable the teachers to develop Memory Techniques For People Of All Ages Children are one thing, but Lynne talks about how all the same techniques apply across the board to people of every age. No matter how time crushed you may be. As you continue listening, you'll learn: * Why memory techniques will save you time, not consume it. * Why memory techniques should be taught within the curriculum of schools, not as a separate subject. * Why memory techniques have inspired students to BEG for testing, not run shrieking from their exams. * The role of cold in creativity and memory with respect to cold showers and the vagus nerve. Additional Links & Resources The Memory Code on Amazon. Lynne Kelly's author website The Orality Center Moonwalking with Einstein Dominic O'Brien David Abram's The Spell of the Sensuous Walter J. Ong The post The Memory Code: Prehistoric Memory Techniques You Can Use Now appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Have you ever sat down to learn something and thrown your hands up in the air? Not to catch a balloon or give a salute. But because you were furious and frustrated? And have you felt that a learning task was so hard that you just wanted to give up? I hear you! After all, I've put some of the toughest learning challenges in front of myself all the time. Languages like Biblical Hebrew, German, Chinese. Musical instruments like sitar and bass. Hands-on mechanical tasks like figuring out how to spread the good news about memory techniques with a videos, blogs and podcasts. And in all cases, it takes grit. It takes tenacity. It takes these… 4 Secret Ways To Make It So Easy You Can Run Circles Around Everyone Else! If you're interested, I'd like to share these 4 secrets with you, plus another 4 in this video: All I ask is that you read them carefully and give at least ONE of them a serious try (minus the last one in the video above). But let's be clear: Trying just one would be good. But … 50% would be great. 100%? … Why that would be downright Magnetic! 1. The Most Powerful Question Any Learner Can Ask One of the reasons some people find learning so painful is that they don't ask a simple question. It's a question that, when applied often, can unlock the nuclear power needed to drive you through some of the hardest missions in life. It's a question almost no learner asks. Probably because it's a bit tough for most people to wrap their heads around. It sounds kind of selfish, after all. The question is: "What's in it for me?" But even if it has a selfish angle to it, this question is so important. Why? Because So Many Learners Are Trying To Accomplish Outcomes For Everyone But Themselves! Think about it: You go to school and learn things to please the machine … You get a medical degree to appease your family … You study a language because it's part of a degree … Nothing wrong with any of that, unless … None Of It Has To Do With What You Authentically Want In Life! And so it's little wonder learning feels hard. If you're the last person who gets a kick-back for all that effort, it's always going to feel like you're trying to chew through a brick wall. Make it easier on yourself by learning things that have a definite payoff for the number one person that matters: You. Because here's the plain truth: You're a good person. You want to serve others. And you can change the world. But it will never happen if you secretly hate the learning process because it just doesn't serve your needs first. Want a fast and easy way live authentically? Practice gratitude: 2. Why Comatose Zombies Can Outlearn The Flash Any Day Okay, that sub-headline might be a bit misleading. What I mean to say is that you need to relax to learn. Because here's a fundamental truth: Information flees from tension. But it's Magnetically attracted to relaxation. Let me say that again: Information flees from tension. But it's Magnetically attracted to relaxation.Click To Tweet And the more you know how to relax your brain, the more information will want to stick around. You'll be able to slosh it around the mouth of your mind like fine wine and actually enjoy it for a change. And what you enjoy … ? Pleasure Is Instantly Easier To Remember! The trick you need to understand when it comes to relaxing your mind is this: Your mind is produced by your brain. Your brain is a physical entity. And that's what makes the Memory Palace technique so powerful: It's something physical out in the world being used physically inside your material brain. Don't know how to make a Memory Palace? No problem. Register for this: And to get the most of the training, relax your mind each time before you use your memory. That said, never try to relax your mind without relaxing your body first. In fact, it's very likely that the only way to truly relax your mind is by relaxing the body first. So the next time you sit down to study, stretch a little first. Meditate. Focus for awhile on your breathing. Attention paid to breathing will lower most of your resistances to learning and make everything easier. 3. Understand That The Map Is Never The Territory – But Maps Sure Do Help! When I created this Infographic and Podcast episode teaching you how to realistically memorize a textbook, I had no idea people would find it so practical and useful. After all, everybody asks me for "tips and tricks" that will let them memorize entire books. But the truth is that this feat is rarely necessary. In fact, it's probably never necessary. But if you use the techniques I teach in that podcast to get a global overview of the book you need to read, you'll have a map. This map will set the stage for your experience of the territory. And that will give you laser-targeted tools for remembering the parts that matter. Proof: When you can do that, you do better than just learn and remember. You also create knowledge. And when you create knowledge, the speed at which you can learn grows exponentially. It feels good, creates energy and encouragement and keeps you on the path of continual growth. Nothing difficult or painful about that. 4. The Magnetic Magnifying Glass Method Have you ever heard the phrase, "you don't know what you don't know"? Tony Buzan mentioned it during our conversation some time ago on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast. If you want to make learning faster and easier, make sure to get yourself in orbit with that concept. Why? Because when you hold a magnifying glass to your own ignorance, you get real clear on what it is you need to learn. Without that clarity, it's nearly impossible to make progress! In other words, learning truly is hard and slow when you're stumbling around blind in a cloud of unknowing. But when you ask questions about what you know and don't know about a topic, suddenly a lot of that fog is whisked away. Want a simple exercise you can use for each and every learning project you ever undertake? It's easy, fun and speeds up everything. It's called: Writing summaries. Every time you take a class, attend a lecture, read a chapter, watch a video or even use an app, take a quick second to jot down everything you can remember. Then beneath that, start asking questions about what it is you think was covered … but mysteriously can't remember. Then make two plans: One plan for how you're going to continue to remember what you remembered. Another plan for what you're going to do to fill in the gaps so that you can remember the information you think flew over your head. Simple. Elegant. Easy and effective. Why Most People Prefer A Life Based On Excuses A lot of people will go through a post like this, nod yes to each and every point and then carry on with their lives of learning desperation. The reason why this happens is simple: It's all contained in point number one. If you missed it and care about the life of your memory and your mind, go over it again. And if you feel like you're resistant to any of the wisdom contained in this post, review the second point I've made. If anything on the planet raises your hackles, a few simple exercises that take just a few minutes of your time could be a game changer for you. And if you'd like a realistic way to remember everything of importance in any book or posts like these you encounter in the world, there's a link there just waiting to help you out. For the true Magnetic Knight, point four will be the most precious of all. There's a little comment section below where you can complete this part of the exercise. I'll be around to help you fill in any gaps I may have missed. I look forward to hearing from you, and until next time, keep learning and keep yourself Magnetic! The post 4 Easy Ways To Learn Faster And Remember More appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Don't you love a teacher who can tell a good joke? You know the kind: Each class begins on a funny note. You hang on every word, no matter how difficult. In fact … it pains you when the lectures end. You can hardly believe it, but as tough as the information flowing from your teacher might get, you simply cannot get enough. When that happens … Don't Despair! And understand this: According to Barbara Oakley in her new book, Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles And Discover Your Hidden Potential, successful teachers have a strange ability … … the ability to wrap candy around the crusted salt of difficult ideas. In other words, great teachers make challenging concepts easier for your brain to absorb and remember. How On Earth Do They Accomplish That? To accomplish this difficult feat, many great teachers use humor. Humor? Is that all it takes? Well … In many cases, yes. Humor, it turns out, (which can be verbal or situational as Zizek makes clear in the video above) is a core ingredient in the magic spells these soothing muses of hardcore information use to slide information into your mind without you noticing. That's right. You really can learn almost on autopilot. An Aspirin For The Aches And Pains Of Education? Humor, and those humorous teachers who deploy it, use their special talent with jokes to manipulate your brain's "opioid reward system." Rest assured: This painkiller for information is super-important for the future of humanity. Why am I being so dramatic? I'm glad you asked. As Oakley explains, merely thinking about learning something difficult activates one of the pain centers in your brain. Nothing like Christian Bök's pleasant flurry of "motorized razors" (another professor who uses humor to great effect): But you get the idea. Your brain anticipates the pain and tries to run away shrieking. That part of the brain so opposed to learning? It's called the insular cortex. Even this biological term itself sounds scary, doesn't it? Well … This Term Should Sound Scary! But here's the thing: Oakley has good news for you and your insular cortex on every page of Mindshift. And the best part is that you don't need every teacher to be a comic to learn even the most difficult topics without fear and suffering. Mindshift is designed to help you figure out what you want to learn and how to get yourself take the steps needed to succeed. Using stories, activities and factual data about how your brain works, you'll walk away from reading Mindshift equipped to anticipate and remove all obstacles you could possibly face on your way. All you need to do is understand a few key "time travel" secrets … Time Travel Secret #1: Your Past Is A Treasure Trove Of Transformation One of the most exciting aspects of Mindshift is the lesson that nothing in your past is a waste. In fact, much of your potential for future success as a learner and eventual leader in a field of your choosing lies in what you've already done. You need only know how to tap into it. As Oakley demonstrates throughout the book, traditional ideas about expertise are outmoded. But here's the beautiful news: We are all unusually equipped for the requirements of the 21st century where several areas of "deep knowledge" separate the cream from the crop. And if you're a scholar, a lot of what you know can help you escape the Ivory Tower and have an impacting career beyond the university. Here's Barbara helping you make that mindshift: You Can Be The Cream Floating Gracefully Up To The Top The trick in getting there lies in understanding your passions and being able to identify your current skills (more on "current" affairs in your time traveling in a second). But this is important: Don't get caught up on this word "skills." It has a lot of meanings and if you're reading this page, you've got a done of them. Without a doubt, you're already beaming brightly from within the paradise of your multiple intelligences. But There's A Catch! If you haven't sat down with some paper to make your skills and mental assets visible to yourself, so many vibrant resources in your life could be entirely lost to you like some kind of undetected natural gas resource waiting to be tapped. And that means you might find yourself living a life lost to digital amnesia. In addition to making your past resources discoverable, Mindshift shows you how to install the needed desire for lifelong learning if you haven't already got it. Time Travel Secret#2: The Power Of Now For Your Learning That's right. You really can "time travel" the present moment. As one learner interviewed in Mindshift puts it, you accomplish this feat by shifting your thinking about where you are now. Instead of worrying about having a safety net, use everything you've got and your circumstances as a springboard. You need only learn how to see the opportunities. Two of the most useful concepts from Mindshift are also the most understated. The first is balancing modesty vs. hubris and the power of solving other people's problems. Just as we have brain chemicals that send out pain signals into our consciousness when learning something hard appears before us, we also have the hard truth that learning makes us better people. And that means having more power. The Comic Book Reality Of Life Long Learning Of course, life is rarely as simple as a comic book, but the old line couldn't be truer when it comes to learning: Great power demands responsibility for you as much as it does for Spider-Man! Sadly, not everyone uses their power wisely or accepts the responsibility power brings. In so many of the stories in Mindshift … … we read about abuses of power from teachers and other community leaders. These are people who should have known better. Yet, as lacking in fun and humor as this genre of story in Mindshift is, the lesson and the reasons why the author includes them is clear: Each "Mindshifter" in Dr. Oakley's case studies clearly wanted to learn in a way that de-toxified earlier educational experiences and ensured they never happened again. Now if that isn't taking control over the present moment and accepting responsibility for the power that action itself brings, I don't know what is. Time Travel Secret #3: The Best Tense For Directing Your Focus Not just in any wild direction, mind you. The key seems to be focusing outward. Kind of like how Benny Lewis teaches how you need to speak the new language from day one. Out into the world, and out into the future. So it's never the question, "What do I want to learn?" that puts such extraordinary wind into the sails of the successful learners featured in Mindshift. It's the question of "What am I going to do with what I learn?" Having at least an initial answer to that question in a way that directs energy towards the future seems to make the hugest difference. After all, it's by asking and answering questions – high quality questions – that we can best shape the future we want to experience. And in almost every case, those who take the beloved MOOCs that Oakley describes in perhaps the funniest portrait I've yet to read, future planning for the application of the knowledge you discover is a huge driver of success. (Note: If you don't know about Dr. Oakley's own ultra-popular MOOC, Learning How to Learn, click that link three words back for an interview she gave the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast with her diving deep into everything about it and how it can help you.) The Power Of Personal Change Relies On Chronologies You Control Whether you're a learner with no aspirations to teach or a teacher looking to expand, Mindshift is the book for you. But you don't have to take my word for it. Listen to what the author has to say for herself in this engaging discussion: Above all, Mindshift is one of those rarest things all learners love to find: A vessel that takes you on a journey and comes packed with the tools for maintenance and repair as you travel. You also get the resources for adding an entire fleet of ships to bay of your learning life as you go. With stories, interactive exercises, science and inspiration offered in Mindshift, you'll know what to do and how to do it as you learn your way into the unknown. And that's no joke. As Oakley promises, things are just getting started for students and instructors alike as video technology gets easier to use, metrics reveal more about what works and online classroom experiences get "stickier, funnier, and overall 'learnier.'" Learnier? Okay, now you can laugh. All the way to whatever future you've always wanted after you read Mindshift. The post Mindshift: 3 "Time Travel" Secrets From People Learning How To Learn appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Would you like to pick the mind of the greatest living Major System masters? If so, click play above and dive into the incredible mnemonic talent of Florian Dellé. In this exclusive interview with Florian on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, you'll discover: Strangely counter-beneficial aspects of memory - and how to avoid them! Click To Tweet Plus, keep listening and you'll learn: The key factors that make memory competition more exciting to participate in and watch as a spectator … The number one need every student of memory techniques must fulfill to experience their true capabilities … The connection between using your memory and motivation. Master this and you'll create a state of excitement that helps you overcome all kinds of learning obstacles and barriers! Why you shouldn't waste any more time on boring and frustrating learning techniques … Why everything we do with memory techniques always builds on the work of others … How to use forms and shapes to help you memorize keywords and the names of cells, golf statistics or anything you want to memorize … How to use chain stories, image clusters and other ideas locked up in Esel's Welt … How to create a second or even third Major Method/Major System list to create multiple memory advantages and more variety in your mnemonic tool box … The "annoying" truth about reusing your mnemonic images and Memory Palaces … Why these techniques are never just about having a "code system" Florian's PAO 1000 people and 1000 objects system and how specifically he works with them in sets of 100 in order to generate a workable memory system. Understand the thinking behind his strategy and you'll be well-equipped to evolving your own approach for achieving any learning goal. Florian's amazing Pyramid Memory System … How to open your image sets for any purpose without getting bogged down by dogmatic rules. The limits of the Major System and why Florian decided to expand and create his own. Why some people FEAR the Major System and how to overcome this hurdle so that you can feel the fun while experiencing its many benefits … Why Florian likes movement and even abstract images, as opposed to stationary objects like street lamps in his memory practice … Why boredom should be avoided at all costs when learning to use memory techniques … Why Florian created ThinkKniht and developed an alternative to the Major System … How to find your "feeling" for the Major System associations so that you're happy with it and using it to maximum effect from the beginning … The difference between a "native society" and a "civilized society" and the role of apps for the future of your memory … The difference between learning, training and coaching software yet to come. Understanding how all these softwares can be relevant for your learning will blow your mind with all the possibilities … Why trial and error might eventually be eliminated from the learning process. The only question is … will that be a good thing or bad? Why you should never be intimidated by the lingo and "systems" of memory techniques and how to quickly get yourself into the practice of using your memory … even if you initially doubt the efficiency of the initial training period … … and much, much more! (Note for puzzle-fans: Can you see the special mnemonic I've hidden in the special-characters?) I'm grateful for this discussion with Florian and look forward to hearing your response. Be sure to follow Florian on Twitter and support his mission in bringing mnemonics and the real magic of memory to everyone around the world. Resources Mentioned In The Podcast & Other Great Links To Explore Esels Welt by Ulrich Voigt The Wardrobe Method Breakdown of the "classic" Major System and Florian's Visual Major System Code Alex Mullen Interviews Florian Dellé Florian's World Memory Championship stats – impressive! The post Major System Secrets And The Future Of Your Memory With Florian Dellé appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Have you ever said out loud or in your mind, "I can't learn a language!" Well … guess what? You're fooling yourself! And it's the worse kind of lie. Why? Because every minute you're not fluent in at least one other language, you're keeping yourself locked in a monolingual prison … The same prison that deeply dissatisfies billions of people around the world! And instead of doing something to improve their lot in life and memory, they simper and whimper in the unnecessary depression and suffering that the following lies, illusions and problems created by people perfectly capable of success. Avoid the following traps and you will grasp success and suckle from its nourishment for life – guaranteed! #1: The Lie That You're Too Busy To Learn A Language That's how most people see themselves: Busy. REALLY busy. In some cases, this is true. But for most of us, being "time poor" has a core root. And that root is rotten. These days its lots and lots of time WASTED on social media. Don't blame yourself, though. As I talked about last time when I gave you my Ultimate Concentration Exercise Combo, a lot of the problem isn't your fault. But you can do something about the problem. And to ignore it means just three things: 1. A lack of discipline. 2. An unwillingness to learn and practice focus. 3. A complete and utter lack of prioritization. The good news is you can change this sorry state. And You should! You want discipline. You want results. And you know that learning a language is good for your brain. The secret? Stop Splitting Your Attention As I shared in my post about morning rituals for language learning, you can use Magnetic Habit-Chaining to get more results in 15-30 minutes per day than most language learners will accomplish in a month. It's fun, easy to do and you'll like yourself better. Why? Because you're moving towards your language goal, not cheating yourself out of it by wasting time on unnecessary social media. Whatever you do, stop running around as if your hair's on fire.Click To Tweet It isn't. And you've got languages to learn. Bonus: How to maintain quality in your daily language learning ritual: Have a space in your home dedicated to language learning. For tips on how, check out these 15 memory care home solutions. 2. The Lie That You Don't Have The Adequate Language Learning Tools A vital component to learning a language is knowing what to use and how to use it. Here's a Magnetic-sized tip: Use just one book, just one audio program and just one video course at a time. No more than that, though always with the option of using less. Use this "rule of three" in combination with The Big Five Of Language Learning to structure your learning sessions: Memory Reading Writing Speaking Listening Here's my three and a quick summary of how I'm using them: That's my beloved Chinese character book. It's presenting the material in German, which is great because it helps me maintain that language. It also has a special feature in the back that bolts Magnetically to the Magnetic Memory Method – stay tuned for news about that. I'm currently memorizing phrases from Pimsleur, more or less as discussed in this video: It's a golden technique. But nothing is better than the Real Spoken Chinese Vault. Here's one example of how I'm using it: What a blessing this course has been! If you're studying Chinese, you've simply got to check it out and grab my MMM bonuses. In each case, I'm using Memory Palaces in combination with The Big Five of Language Learning. This multi-step process is important because it moves the language through multiple representation centers of the brain: audio, visual and kinesthetic. And if you get in some language learning practice in restaurants that feature the language you're studying, you can squeeze in your gustatory and olfactory rep centers too. What Matters Is Consistency And you're much more likely to master consistency if you limit your tools. Don't forget the rule of three!Click To Tweet 3. The Lie That You Must Learn Lackluster Vocabulary & Phrases So Boring You Wanna Tear Your Hair Out Although you occasionally do have to buckle down and learn some boring words like he, she, if, then, but and … AND … … most language learners struggle because they stick too closely to the boring stuff. Let's face it: We need a textbook, audio and video program. But we also need more. We need to learn vocabulary and phrases that connect with our interests. For me, it's movies. And books. And the topic of memory. Knowing what I like makes the pursuit of vocabulary and phrases easier. Knowing what you like will make it easier for you too. Plus, regularly meeting with native speakers who share similar interests means those interesting and exciting terms will keep popping up. Case in point: I'm still sad about leaving Berlin, but delighted that there's a German book club here in Brisbane. And so that means I get to hang with literature enthusiasts who use really cool words and phrases – all while reading and discussing books that include amazing vocab and linguistic flair that excited me page after page. Bonus: Focusing on words and phrases connected to your interests creates energy. As language learners, we need all we can get for the long haul, so make sure you're feeding yourself plenty of relevant things to say and understand. That's how you create a powerfully consistent engine that builds and fuels itself for a lifetime of voyages on the highways of fluency. 4. The Lie That Language Learners Don't Need A Positive Mindset & Welcoming Attitude I've learned a lot over the years about why some people learning languages don't have much success. A lot comes down to the fact that they don't make new words and phrases feel welcome. They don't make their mood and memory like a warm living room. They don't come out with freshly baked cookies and they certainly don't serve milk. And that's sad. Look at it this way: New vocabulary and phrases are the backbone of your language learning progress. Without acquiring them, you're left bored, frustrated and alone in a boat without a paddle. Those delightful islands of fluency become less and less reachable without a constant flow of the new entering and remaining in your brain. But so many people prefer negative attitudes and the conviction that their language is the most difficult in the world. How about a different tact? How about a positive and welcoming attitude that says: My language is the best and easiest language in the world! I love it and I'm going to do everything in my power to welcome its parts in so that they want to stay forever. My language is the best and easiest language in the world!Click To Tweet Sounds more inviting, doesn't it? Well, of course it does, but you've got to do more than just think welcoming thoughts. You need to prepare your mind to actually be welcoming. And that's as simple as creating and using Memory Palaces. It's no more difficult than dreaming up pictures you associate with sounds so you can place them strategically in your Memory Palaces for recall later. What you're doing is so much simpler than people who insist on calling memory techniques for language learning difficult fail to understand: You're simply having a conversation with sound and meaning in your mind. But if your mind is an unwelcoming dungeon filled with torturous tools of negativity … … Of course all the vocabulary and phrases you want to remember runs away fearful and screaming! Instead, show the language you want to learn love and appreciation. Create an environment it actually wants to stick around and enjoy living in. Bonus: One of the best ways to make new words and phrases feel welcome in your mind is to use them promptly. Seriously. A huge secret of memory success is just to get the words and phrases you use into operation immediately. Oh, and drink water. Dehydrated brains shrink. The smaller your brain, the less room for vocabulary and phrases. 5. The Lie That Leads To Lack Of Gratitude This next point might sound a bit crazy, but I believe it to be 100% true: People privileged enough to even think about learning a language are rarely thankful about the privileges they have. Seriously. All the whining and crying out there about the difficulties of learning a language makes me want to puke. Most of us should be on our hands and knees thanking our lucky stars that we even have the opportunity to learn anything. And please do not waste any time feeling offended if you think I'm pointing my finger at you. Believe me, I sometimes get whiny myself about the difficulties in life. We all do. But the difference between those who make progress and those who get stuck in a rut comes down to the simple ability to recognize when you're feeling sorry for yourself. And then pick up your chin and move on. But the question remains: How so you show that you're grateful for learning a language? One way is to write about it every day in your gratitude journal. That's what I do. Every morning, I acknowledge at least 10 things I'm grateful for, sometimes more. And everyday, I acknowledge that I'm grateful for my progress with Chinese and the maintenance of my German. When I get a chance to speak any other language I've learned something from – or even just remember a language learning experience – I jot that down too. Showing gratitude is simple, easy and fast. And if you don't think it will make a difference … Go ahead and try to prove me wrong. I admire your skepticism and can't wait to hear what happens when you apply sincere gratitude practice to your language learning activities. Bonus: You can easily complete your daily gratitude exercise when you use The Freedom Journal for language learning. It's an exceptional tool for breaking everything down into 10-day sprints, so make sure you've got one on your side in support of your language learning goals. Magnetic Conclusion Be bold and outrageous when learning a language. So many failures come down to the simple fact that people bore themselves to death. Worse, they hypnotize themselves with negative messages and don't prepare their minds for success. Sadly, that's the status quo. That's what passes as "normal." But this sad portrait of normalcy and language learning destitution doesn't have to be you! Instead of being busy, make time … Instead of feeling helpless and piling on more useless tools, recognize that you already have more than you need … Instead of choosing lackluster phrases and vocabulary … Sex Things Up! Instead of forcing the language into a hostile jungle of negativity, welcome the language into a well-rested and well-cared for brain … Instead of griping and moaning about how tough everything is,be grateful that you have the opportunity to learn in the first place. And above all, recognize that you're on a journey. You're playing the long game. You're in it to experience amazing returns on your investments and wonderful adventures. But nothing's going to happen if you let these 5 barriers hold you back. So what do you say? Are you ready to drop the dark chains holding you down and release the language learning force within you? I hope so, because time sure is ticking. And none of us know how much we've got left, so it's important to seek the fulfillment of fluency with all engines blazing. Are you with me? The post 5 Lies You Use To Hypnotize Yourself That You Can't Learn A Language appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Do you ever go hunting for music you can use to increase your focus and concentration? I sure have. But over the years, I've experienced diminishing returns. That got me wondering about what benefits it ever had in the first place. So here's an idea that might help you stop wasting time and energy on the hunt for external cures that promise to increase your focus. Start by watching this video: Now then … Why is all this business about concentration so important? Here's a wake-up call: The problem with finding music and apps and other gadgets to help improve your focus and concentration is this: Those efforts will always fail. Why? Because they never address the core problem. And the reason you can't focus and concentrate is simple: Your Concentration Muscles Are Weak And Pathetic! Trust me. I've been there. I've felt both sides of the coin while learning how to improve focus and concentration. I've gone through periods where my concentration was so poor I couldn't finish a single sentence in a book. And this lack of concentration and the ongoing need to improve focus caused me a lot of pain. For one thing, I almost dropped out of my Ph.D. program. Imagine that! Spending all those years of your life and thousands upon thousands in tuition … … only to find yourself in a concentration rut. Well, there's a way out. And the first step on that journey to freedom from poor concentration starts with saying Yes! to the alternative. And that involves nothing more than getting your ego out of the picture. Laser Sharp Concentration Begins With A Little Death Do I have your attention yet? I hope so, because death is no laughing matter. But here's the thing: If you're willing to sit and meditate, you'll be engaging in the most profound activity invented by humanity (next to memory techniques): You'll Be Murdering Your Ego! And that, my Magnetic friend, is a wonderful thing. Because every goal and desire you haven't achieved is likely being held hostage by your ego. It sounds crazy, but true. So much of the focus and concentration we need to get things done flees from us due to simple biology. You see, your brain conserves energy as much as possible. Sure, some people are lazy and unmotivated. But most of us struggle to focus and get things done because we have a brain telling us that it's okay to be lazy and slothful. And the worse thing is … Your Lazy Brain Isn't Necessarily Wrong! Because here's the thing: Way back when we lived on the savanna, our brains learned to conserve energy. At least, that's one historical interpretation of the anthropological data. Seriously. Whereas some people prefer to fantasize about early humans as big bulky caveman conquering the world … … it's more likely that we were weaklings hiding in the shade of trees most of the time. What were we doing there? Two things: 1) Conserving energy 2) Waiting for better predators to kill animals and leave their carcasses behind so we could scavenge the remains. Sounds like a bleak interpretation of history, doesn't it? Not If You Let This Simple Fact Of Nature Empower You! When you realize that it's very likely humans evolved to conserve energy. That means to also limit spending it. And when you realize this, all that laziness suddenly makes sense. When things make sense, you can start to engineer change on the basis of some solid understanding. That's important because for many of us, we simply can't learn without knowing why we are the way we are and having some context around it. So there you have it: You're forgiven for being lazy. It's in your genes. No Ego, No Enemy But what does all this have to do with the ego? This is important: As human psychology developed, language and stories arrived on the scene. And that meant chatter. A lot of which takes place in your mind. Self-talk about the past, mostly inaccurate descriptions and alternative versions of the present, memories of the past … It just goes on and on. And it's the constant talk that makes focus and concentration difficult to achieve. Because now instead of conserving energy … You're Spending The Lifeblood Of Your Brain On Nothing! But when you meditate, you create an escape hatch. And you can make it bigger and bigger in a relatively short period of time. Not only that, but you can approach higher levels of "awakening." These are really cool because you understand … Oh Wow! I'm Free From All That Floating Junk! And that leads to something extraordinary: You realize that you're concentrating at a higher level. Your focus is sharper. You're on fire for the present moment and letting it burn you up in all its glory. How An Unusual Way Of Counting From 1 – 10 Will Increase Your Focus 100x … Or More! Listen: You don't have to take my word for the bold claims I'm making. There is so much scientific research backing this up that you could build a new planet from it. But like a lot of science, all the evidence in the world sometimes fails to make people budge in the right direction. Take the struggle to stop smoking, for example. In any case, when you meditate at least 4 days a week as recommended here (daily is better), you'll find that your memory improves automatically. And it's directly correlated with improvements in your focus and concentration. Then try this: As you sit and meditate, count from one to ten. But instead of doing a straight-up count from one to ten … Skip the even numbers. Repress them in your mind. The Incontestable Truth About Red Cats Have you ever heard of that question they teach new hypnotists? It goes like this: Don't think of a red cat. And, of course, it's nearly impossible to hear that phrase without negating the word "don't" and thinking of the thing you're not supposed to think about. Well, that's what's so odd about meditating and counting from one to ten but repressing the even numbers. You'll find at first that it's very difficult to complete this simple exercise. And that's because it's not so simple. Just as it's difficult not to think of a red cat when someone commands you not to do so, it's really hard not to think of the numbers two, four, six and eight when you're counting to ten. This simple exercise, when practiced over time into the double and even triple digits, will improve your concentration significantly. Why? Cross-Fit Training For Your Mind Never Felt So Good Because you're basically giving your brain a few kinds of exercise at the same time. First, you're focusing on the present activity in a state of stillness. You're practicing the concentration of governing the body. Then, in counting, you're practicing concentrating on tracking a behavior and accurately completing a task. Finally, in doing all these things, you're also monitoring your ability to repress things that you don't want to think about. And so you're developing the ability to shut distractions out of your mind. Best part: You Can Use Your Newfound Focus And Concentration To Use Memory Techniques Better Seriously. We're living in an age where people are so worried about the future. Unemployment runs rampant and an entire generation raised solely on the Internet is running around with brains destroyed by Digital Amnesia. The solution? Sit just to sit. Count from one to ten. Learn memory techniques. Apply them to learning a new language. Do things that are good for your brain so that you can eliminate any and all fear you may have about the future. No, the things you need will never come pouring out of the sky. But the power to manifest everything you dream of rests firmly in your mind. If only you could concentrate. Now you know how to make your concentration muscles super-strong. And it hardly requires any heavy lifting. Now isn't that cool? The post The Ultimate Concentration Combo For Memory Improvement appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

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.