Any child can give you a definition of the word memory. We think of memory as a recall of events. But with advances in neuroscience, the very concept of what constitutes memory is changing.
The most important thing we are learning from neuroscience is that we have the wrong expectations for memory. As it turns out, the exact recall that we associate with being our memory is not that important. It’s how we think of the past that’s important.
Happiness and satisfaction are the emotions we remember. As is sadness. Those emotions come from choices we made in the past. And those emotions determine how we think of our choices today. We rarely challenge our memories even though they may no longer be relevant.
Each of us has these memories that are influencing how we make choices today.
- We turn down an opportunity based on our memory of being embarrassed by a past failure.
- We form an impression of someone based upon an unfortunate slight caused by another person in our past.
- We recall a happy time in our life and link it to who was President at the time even though that person had nothing to do with our happiness.
Memory influences every aspect of our present self not because of our ability to recall details of the past but how we remember how we felt at that time. But yet, we give little thought to what memory is really for. Why is that?
One reason might be that playing upon our memories is a great way for others to influence our present and future choices. Messages of candidates for public office evoke memories to form the impressions we have of them. That is also the strategy used to sell us something.
Isn’t it time for us to give thought to why we remember and how it’s changing the choices we make today and for the future?
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“Happiness isn’t something you experience; it’s something you remember.” – Oscar Levant