I was meditating on memory techniques. I’ve been studying a book entitled “Switch On Your Brain” by Dr. Caroline Leaf. I feel compelled to master the concepts in the book. I was reading and re-reading the Prologue and 1^st chapter carefully but, the concepts were not sticking.

About a year ago I learned of the Memory Palace or the Method of Loci in a TED Talk given by Josh Foer as a memory technique. I subsequently bought Josh’s informative book entitled “Moonwalking With Einstein” and enjoyed it.

In the book, Josh credits Simonides, an ancient Greek poet, as the creator of the mnemonic technique. The story goes that the poet was commissioned to write a victory ode for a boxer. During his recitation of the ode, he received word that there were two young men waiting outside to see him. When he got outside, the dining hall collapsed on those who remained inside.

The building crushed the people inside beyond all recognition. Grieving families wanted to know where their loved ones were in the hall, so they could put them to rest. By closing his eyes, he could visualize in his imagination where all the people were sitting. One by one he guided the families to them as the rubble was cleared.

Since learning this technique myself, I have used it on occasion when I have had opportunity to teach and preach. For example, as I prepare my message, I go to my bedroom in my mind, and there I create the introduction. I use visual cues for my recliner, then my bed, then my chest of drawers and my wife’s chest of drawers for each point I want to make. Then, I walk into my daughter’s bedroom and do the same, then the bathroom, my son’s bedroom, throughout all the rooms in the house as needed. If I do it adequately the message just flows.

The only thing is, it takes time. But, once I’ve made the images sticky enough (wacky, memorable, thought provoking) it is a piece of cake for me to recite what I have stored. Here are some advantages:

1. It’s super easy to remember key points this way.
2. Key points are expounded upon in the correct order that I want them to be expressed.
3. It’s like writing the story on the tablet of my heart. Once it is in there, I can speak confidently, impassioned, and with feeling.
4. If I keep it up long enough, I seem to never forget. Even now I can enter into my memory palace and walk through the different rooms in my imagination. By reviewing the visual cues that I have implanted with in the room months before, I can recall key concepts backwards and forwards.
5. This makes me feel accomplished.

How about you? What methods do you use to remember key points and thoughts? We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We have been given abilities that can astound and benefit mankind. If you are looking for a memory technique for school, work, or sports entertainment, listen to the TED Talk on YouTube, or buy Josh’s book, and you will be well on your way.