Article Details

Happy and unhappy memory files

What you will get: Reflections on the techniques of association and dissociation

 

“Which files do you access daily?”

 

You see…

 

Your subconscious mind is a little like a filing cabinet. Full of memories about your experiences in life so far.

 

And the memories you choose to access regularly (the files you pull out each day) will determine how you feel each day. They will determine how happy you are.

 

Let’s give it a try…

 

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a time in your life when you were really happy.

 

Picture in detail…

 

…where you are
…what your surroundings are like (where are you, inside or out?)
…who you are with (or maybe you are not with anybody?)
…what are you wearing.

 

So really “step in” to this happy memory, as if you are actually in the moment again now.

 

Now notice how you are feeling the moment you open your eyes.

 

Feeling good?

 

That’s because …

 

Your subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between
a memory and reality.

 

So if you imagine something is happening clearly and vividly, your brain starts to believe it is happening and produces chemical changes (feelings) that fit the memory.

 

So happy memories trigger happy feelings.

 

And unhappy memories trigger unhappy feelings.

 

So your imagination is actually your best friend or your worst enemy, depending on how you choose to use it.

 

In the world of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), practitioners refer to the techniques of Association and Dissociation.

 

So the trick is…

 

To learn to Associate (or step in) to happy memories, reliving them as if you are in the moment again now.

 

And then to Dissociate (step away from) unhappy memories. So you don’t pretend the unhappy memory is not there, but when you catch yourself thinking about it you step out of your body and kind of look at from a safe distance. So like a curious observer.

 

And when you Master these techniques, you will get the emotional benefits of happy memories. And you will learn to detach from unhappy memories, so you acknowledge them but you don’t “feel” them every time they pop up in your conscious awareness.

 

Make sense?

 

So like I said, if all your memories are like files in a filing cabinet, be careful which ones you choose to take out and relive in your mind – your happiness depends on it!

 

I’m off to dive into one of my happy memory files.

 

How about you?

 

To your success

 

sign_steve

 

 

 

 

P.S. Right now I am recruiting for the new class of the Accredited Virtual Masters in High Performance Leadership. Watch this to find out how the Masters could change your life!

 

Steve Neale
“Europe’s Leading Expert on Personal and Professional Growth”

 

Psychologist, Executive Coach, EI Practitioner, Award Winning Trainer, International Author, Psychodynamic Therapist, Hypnotherapist, Mindfulness Instructor, International Speaker, Creator of the LPS, Creator of the Accredited Masters in High Performance Leadership

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