Episodic
Memory, Semantic Memory, Oh Forget it, Just Make Mistakes!
Do you fear messing something up? Sure, we all do.
But this week, your goal is to take a leap into something you fear, and mess it
up. You actually learn better when you mess up. Of course, you could attempt
something you fear and actually achieve it on the first try, which is just
another reason to attempt your goal despite the potential for making a mistake.
However, the reality is, we all know that when we
try something new, we have a chance of making a mistake. When you try and retry
to find a solution to your mess up, you are actually using a deeper part within
your brain. Getting sort of technical here, when we think at a deeper level for
more understanding, we require an activation
of our semantic memory. We are forced to complete a stronger memory
search resulting in greater memory recall.
Taking a step back here- we first have something
called episodic
memory. This is a part of our memory that involves recalling experiences and
the emotions and feelings behind them. Our episodic memory was activated as we
learned to ride a bike. As we practiced, and fell, and practiced again, we soon
had ingrained into our mind what we learned.
At
this point, our episodic memory soon felt safe enough to let go of some of the
direct emotions and feelings behind the event. As the feelings went down, more solid
information flowed into our semantic memory. Here is where basic knowledge is
stored.
The
moral of the story- the more you routinely work through your “mess ups” the
more you will get comfortable with this practice and it will soon become basic knowledge
to act in this manner. And, as a consequence of making mistakes
and working through them, as you attack your next task, you will go head on
with less anxiety, more understanding and more knowledge and overall
self-awareness. Soon, making mistakes and working through them with limited
fear or anxiety will become like riding a bike.
This
week’s challenge: Begin to familiarize yourself with messing up and figuring
out solutions to your “mess ups.” Realize that mistakes are essential for
growth, success, and that often when we mess up, our priorities are
put in line and our values come to fruition.
Thomas Edison- “I failed my way to success.”
Dr. Jaime Kulaga is the author of Type "Superwoman: Finding the LIFE in Work-Life Balance - A Self-Searching Book for Women". She is the inspirational founder of the nationally known SuperWoman Workshops. Dr. Kulaga has been featured in Forbes, Glamour, Self and Prevention magazines as well as the national show Daytime for her expertise in Work-Life Balance.
http://www.mindfulrehab.com
http://www.mindfulrehab.com
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