It might be well worth your time. Even if you don't memorize verbatim, memorizing them conceptually has power too. I find letting these ideas sing into us via memory is really impactful.
A mnemonic technical writing library? That I've never attempted, though it's an interesting idea. But what I have done is let great works seep into me by copying them over by hand. The ebb and flow of sentence structure is best imbided through their recreation. This is something I've done more with fictional works, but I think great nonfiction writing would work as well.
I like this technique and have used variations of it over the years, however, I noticed the way that I remember has shifted as I get older and also as I have let the Internet age to dull my senses. So I am excited about this topic.
I have always been very visual. When I was younger and taking tests, I would actually be able to visualize the information from the page of the textbook. I could see it. That ability has faded away over the years but I still have a keen sense of my surroundings. My wife might be frantically looking for something of hers that has no relevance to me, and I’ll say it’s up on your nightstand.
Now I have to write my notes more explicitly. I used to do shorthand notes and now I can’t remember what they mean at times! Lol.
But what I do, for example, below, I recently finished a book and summarized the key concepts in short sentences. This has meaning to me as it helps me to remember how I want to live my life, so there is a purpose for remembering as well.
What do I really have control over? I will surely die, however fate permitting, I will live another day.
Pause before acting. How will I practice virtue today?
Choose my company wisely and see through their eyes. Are we not the same?
Speak little and well, without judgment, and not about myself. Insulted? Simply respond with humor.
Finding gratitude in the present moment , I will reflect on each day.
To further embed, I shortened it.
Control, die, live
Pause, practice
And so on
Thanks again for taking us on this journey with you. I am looking forward to leveraging and modifying what I learn.
This is exciting. I have found memorization of important precepts of my own personal faith has been very valuable. You are definitely onto something with your theories on how it can expand our mind, improve our concentration, and give us something to anchor our thoughts to when needed. I'm looking forward to this!
I tend to remember the lessons I have read but forget to apply them. I forget the why part so I lose the inspiration needed to stay consistent. I need constant reminders of the "why" not the "how".
1) Remembering to apply. I'd reframe this as "forgetting to apply these lessons in the moment." But you do remember eventually. So if you catch yourself getting angry, not dealing with anxiety well, or whatever, when you remember is the right time to apply a philosophical therapy modality and context to your situation. Part of this might be looking up the why if it's coming to you. Then, as you normalize this response and feel is benefit — even if late — you'll likely start catching yourself earlier and earlier in the process until you get to viewing misfortune as the start of another round of the great Stoic game, which is a frame I wrote about somewhere else: https://www.starfirecodes.com/p/how-to-win-the-war-against-setbacks?r=1xulhu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
2) The why not the how. If you think about the Enchiridion, I'd consider it mostly why with some how mixed in. It's mostly context, theory, and reframes in very digestible quick chapters. As part of this course I'll be publishing an article on how to memorize the 53 precepts of the enchiridion. It would be an interesting experiment to see if the "why" is more front of mind after you get them into long-term memory.
Great post !!! again ... 👍👍👍 🔥🔥🔥
{...Most people don’t have personal operating systems to guide them through life...}
This is the most distressing sentence I read today ...
But no surprise when seeing how family-life with 2-3 generations living under one roof are being systematically destroyed ...
The internet is just a library at home with 24/7 access-hrs.
You are what your memory is ...
People w/o memory are living dead;
just perfect to be manipulated by a history that is being re-written 24/7 ...
Fascinating - inspired me to start memorizing the quotes I’ve captured in my wisdom commonplace book.
It might be well worth your time. Even if you don't memorize verbatim, memorizing them conceptually has power too. I find letting these ideas sing into us via memory is really impactful.
Sing into us via memory - love it!
As a writer what’re your thoughts on memorizing exemplary passages and sentences to form a sort of technical library in your mind?
A mnemonic technical writing library? That I've never attempted, though it's an interesting idea. But what I have done is let great works seep into me by copying them over by hand. The ebb and flow of sentence structure is best imbided through their recreation. This is something I've done more with fictional works, but I think great nonfiction writing would work as well.
I like this technique and have used variations of it over the years, however, I noticed the way that I remember has shifted as I get older and also as I have let the Internet age to dull my senses. So I am excited about this topic.
I have always been very visual. When I was younger and taking tests, I would actually be able to visualize the information from the page of the textbook. I could see it. That ability has faded away over the years but I still have a keen sense of my surroundings. My wife might be frantically looking for something of hers that has no relevance to me, and I’ll say it’s up on your nightstand.
Now I have to write my notes more explicitly. I used to do shorthand notes and now I can’t remember what they mean at times! Lol.
But what I do, for example, below, I recently finished a book and summarized the key concepts in short sentences. This has meaning to me as it helps me to remember how I want to live my life, so there is a purpose for remembering as well.
What do I really have control over? I will surely die, however fate permitting, I will live another day.
Pause before acting. How will I practice virtue today?
Choose my company wisely and see through their eyes. Are we not the same?
Speak little and well, without judgment, and not about myself. Insulted? Simply respond with humor.
Finding gratitude in the present moment , I will reflect on each day.
To further embed, I shortened it.
Control, die, live
Pause, practice
And so on
Thanks again for taking us on this journey with you. I am looking forward to leveraging and modifying what I learn.
That's a great list to remember, and your textbook page recall from the past sounds wild.
In my upcoming piece on memorizing Arrian's precepts I do a similar shortening of the ideas to short sentences.
<3
This is exciting. I have found memorization of important precepts of my own personal faith has been very valuable. You are definitely onto something with your theories on how it can expand our mind, improve our concentration, and give us something to anchor our thoughts to when needed. I'm looking forward to this!
Thanks! Excited to have you on board.
I tend to remember the lessons I have read but forget to apply them. I forget the why part so I lose the inspiration needed to stay consistent. I need constant reminders of the "why" not the "how".
I think there are two pieces here.
1) Remembering to apply. I'd reframe this as "forgetting to apply these lessons in the moment." But you do remember eventually. So if you catch yourself getting angry, not dealing with anxiety well, or whatever, when you remember is the right time to apply a philosophical therapy modality and context to your situation. Part of this might be looking up the why if it's coming to you. Then, as you normalize this response and feel is benefit — even if late — you'll likely start catching yourself earlier and earlier in the process until you get to viewing misfortune as the start of another round of the great Stoic game, which is a frame I wrote about somewhere else: https://www.starfirecodes.com/p/how-to-win-the-war-against-setbacks?r=1xulhu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
2) The why not the how. If you think about the Enchiridion, I'd consider it mostly why with some how mixed in. It's mostly context, theory, and reframes in very digestible quick chapters. As part of this course I'll be publishing an article on how to memorize the 53 precepts of the enchiridion. It would be an interesting experiment to see if the "why" is more front of mind after you get them into long-term memory.