Psychology

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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-97aee87e-7fff-785c-8e7c-4d825f2f1dd8">My Mind’s Eye is Blind, is Yours?</b></h1>
<p>If someone told you that you have a brother you never knew about your whole life, your reaction might be:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>“Whoa, no way!” </em></li>
<li><em>That’s impossible.” </em></li>
<li><em>“How come I never heard about this before?” </em></li>
<li><em>“Hmm, that explains some things.” </em></li>
<li><em>“Tell me more.”</em></li>
</ul>
<p>That’s how I felt earlier this year when I read Andrea Thorfinson’s post on My Stories Matter about aphantasia. My initial curiosity at this strange word turned to shock when I discovered I was an aphant. Months later, I'm still wrapping my head around this newfound knowledge about myself!</p>
<p>Visual imagery enables us to ‘see’ things in our heads. It plays a role in memory, daydreaming, and learning.</p>
<p>Having aphantasia means that my <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-the-minds-eye-is-blind1/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">mind’s eye is blind</a>. Ask me to picture an apple, or a face, or a mountain, and I just can’t. When I ask my friends the same thing, some will say they see a green apple, while others see a delicious red apple with a green leaf on its stem. All I see is inky blackness.</p>
<p>Are you also a member of this exclusive club? <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/aphantasia-overview-4178710#:~:text=Aphantasia%20is%20a%20phenomenon%20in,minds%2C%20people%20with%20aphantasia%20cannot." title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">Aphantasia</a> is a unique cognitive phenomenon that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/19/three-percent-of-people-in-the-world-have-aphantasia-heres-what-to-know.html#:~:text=one%20of%20them-,3%25%20of%20people%20can't%20create%20a%20mental%20picture%20in,you're%20one%20of%20them&amp;text=Most%20people%20can%20visualize%20a,phenomenon%20is%20known%20as%20aphantasia." title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">affects 3-4% of the population</a>. It was discovered in 1880 by <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-the-minds-eye-is-blind1/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">Francis Galton</a> but was little studied until 2015 when <a href="https://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/eyesmind/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">neurologist Dr. Adam Zeman</a> coined the term.</p>
<p>You may not <strong>know</strong> the word ‘aphantasia,’ but you probably <strong>know</strong> the classic Disney animation movie. “Fantasia”. The word ‘aphantasia’ is derived from the ancient Greek word ‘phantasia,’ which means ‘imagination,’ and the prefix ‘a-,’ which means ‘without’ (as in ‘apolitical’). </p>
<h2><b>Simple Tests for Aphantasia</b> </h2>
<p>Aphantasia presents across a spectrum, from partial to total. The <a href="https://davidfmarks.net/vividness-of-visual-imagery-questionnaire-2/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire</a>, created by British psychologist David Marks is widely used to assess individual differences. </p>
<p>Here are some simpler tests to see (pardon the pun) if you or someone you know has aphantasia: </p>
<p><b>Test 1</b>: Close your eyes and try to visualize something you know well, such as an apple, your mother’s face, or your room. If you can’t see any image in your mind's eye, even after trying for several seconds, you have aphantasia.</p>
<p><b>Test 2</b>: Have someone describe their mental image in detail. The chart below shows where someone fits on the aphantasia spectrum. </p>
<p>It doesn’t matter what the subject is; all I see is pitch black (#5). I could stare at my laptop for five minutes, but the instant I close my eyes, no effort can coax it to reappear out of the darkness. </p>
<p>I can accept this fact, but I find it disheartening that I’m unable to visualize my Mum’s face now that 96% of people can easily do this with their loved ones.</p>
<p>These tests have become my latest ‘party trick.’ My friends are always amazed, just as I was, to discover the existence of aphantasia. And they learned something about me that they didn’t know before. (My other party trick is asking them to guess my blood type - hint: less than 4% of the population has it). </p>
<p>So far, I’ve found one friend who also has aphantasia - he was shocked. I also discovered that my youngest son is a member of this selective club. Research shows a <a href="https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/120508/Phantasia%20Cortex%20revision%2031.3.20%20for%20submission.pdf?sequence=2" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">genetic component</a> to aphantasia, and there is a 21% chance your first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) will also have it. </p>
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<h2><b>Aphantasia and Memory </b></h2>
<p>One of the critical ways that aphantasia can impact a person’s life is through its effects on memory. Memory is a complex process involving encoding, storing, and retrieving information. There are several types of memory, including:</p>
<p><a href="https://memory.ucsf.edu/symptoms/memory#:~:text=Episodic%3A%20Episodic%20memories%20are%20what,with%20a%20friend%20last%20month." title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia"><b>Semantic Memory</b></a><b> - </b>our knowledge of facts such as your spouse’s birthday, how to use a phone, recognizing the names of colors, and knowing what a dog is.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/episodic-memory" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia"><b>Episodic memory</b></a> - our recollection of events in our past. Examples could be a memory about playing with a toy phone as a child, reminiscing about a family vacation, or remembering where you were when you heard the news about 9/11.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/autobiographical-memory#:~:text=Autobiographical%20memory%20refers%20to%20memory%20for%20one's%20personal%20history%20(Robinson,as%20where%20we%20were%20born." title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia"><b>Autobiographical memory</b></a><b> - </b>one’s personal history, a combination of semantic and episodic memory.</p>
<p>Episodic memory relies heavily on forming mental images often used as cues to retrieve information. Because people with aphantasia can’t create mental images, they have difficulty recalling past events and experiences. Aphantasia can also affect a person’s ability to <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/aphantasia-makes-it-harder-to-visualize-the-future-and-the-past-study-shows" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">imagine future events</a> and <a href="https://news.uchicago.edu/story/cant-draw-mental-picture-aphantasia-causes-blind-spots-minds-eye" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">remember faces</a>, making social situations more challenging.</p>
<h2><b>Aphantasia and My Stories Matter </b></h2>
<p>Looking back, I believe my aphantasia subconsciously inspired me to create My Stories Matter. To help me recall my life's autobiographical memories, I included various features such as Prompts, Cues, Timeline, and Collaboration. I hope other users find these features helpful, regardless of whether or not they experience aphantasia.</p>
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<p><b>Aphantasia and Learning</b></p>
<p>Rehearsal imagery is a learning technique often used by sportspeople to train. They simulate an experience by visually imagining kicking a goal or shooting a 3-pointer. Does that mean an aphant who cannot simulate an experience by visualizing it has a learning disadvantage?</p>
<p>Short-term memory task tests show that people with aphantasia still perform very well even though they don’t use visual imagery. They use different memory strategies to learn.</p>
<p>If you have aphantasia, you may need to experiment with different memory strategies, such as using photos, illustrations, or other visualization tools to fill the void. No wonder the Memory Palace technique never worked for me!</p>
<p>Somewhat surprisingly, aphantasia doesn’t interfere with creativity. People with aphantasia <a href="https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1979.tb02142.x" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">perform on par with people who can visualize images</a> in many tasks involving visual information. A 2003 study showed that the benefit of mental imagery is surprisingly small regarding <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315808795_Mental_imagery_and_creativity_A_meta-Analytic_review_study" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">creative thinking</a>. It certainly didn’t hinder Ed Catcall, the co-founder of Pixar.</p>

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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a592562d-7fff-d1ee-078e-eeeb05bc5b7f">Thinking in Concepts, Not in Images</b></h2>
<p>Aphantasia is often described as a visual condition, but it's <a href="https://aphantasia.com/video/mental-imagery/" mental-imagery="" title="">multi-sensory</a>. Approximately 25% of aphants are like me. Not only is my mind’s eye blind, but my mind’s ear is deaf! Nor can I imagine the smell or flavor of coffee. </p>
<p>It’s difficult to explain how I experience the world. I can describe things but can’t ‘see’ or ‘hear’ them inside my head. I think in terms of concepts. </p>
<p>I just know what an apple looks like. I just know what my Mum sounded like (she spoke English with a Hungarian accent), even though I can’t hear her voice in my head.</p>
<p>That doesn’t sound scientific, but <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7071355/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">studies</a> using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the brains of people with aphantasia have shown differences in brain activity compared to people without aphantasia.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/aphantasia-overview-4178710#:~:text=Aphantasia%20is%20a%20phenomenon%20in,minds%2C%20people%20with%20aphantasia%20cannot." title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">Another study</a> at the University of New South Wales investigated whether people with aphantasia could not form mental images or simply recall images poorly. Using a technique called ‘<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010945217303581" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">binocular rivalry</a>,’ they found that it’s not that people with aphantasia have poor recall—they have no such visual imaginings, to begin with.</p>
<h2><b>Living with Aphantasia</b></h2>
<p>Aphantasia is not a disease, so there is no ‘cure.’ It’s how our brains are wired and another example of human neurodiversity. </p>
<p>It may seem odd that I went decades before realizing I had aphantasia. I had assumed everyone was like me. When someone said, “Picture an apple in your head,” I took that as a figure of speech. I never imagined that other people could see something in their heads.</p>
<p>Also, people with aphantasia may not realize they have it because they’ve developed shortcuts and different strategies for processing the world. </p>
<p>Aphantasia has caused me some trouble over the years. My wife will sometimes bring up something I said many years before. To hammer home her point, she might mention the clothes I was wearing then. Because she can see such detail in her mind’s eye, she thinks I’m being recalcitrant when I profess my ignorance. I hope she’s more inclined to believe me now that I can’t remember.</p>
<p>Although my mind’s eye is blind, ironically, I have very <a href="https://aphantasia.com/video/mental-imagery/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">vivid dreams</a>. They are often in color and movie-like in quality. I’d be happy to see a grainy black-and-white image in my mind’s eye when I’m awake. Instead, I have an excellent working color TV in my head when I’m asleep and a wholly broken TV when I’m awake. </p>
<p>From what I’ve read, this might be explained by the different brain mechanisms employed for involuntary imaging (aka dreaming) rather than voluntary imaging.</p>
<p>Some people with aphantasia report having a heightened sense of other sensory experiences, such as hearing, touch, and taste. I can’t say I’m one of them, though. </p>
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<h2><b>Benefits of Having Aphantasia</b></h2>
<p>While I would prefer not to have aphantasia, there are some <a href="https://ideapod.com/not-having-a-minds-eye/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">benefits</a>: </p>
<ol>
<li>Less likely to be troubled by negative memories or disturbing flashbacks</li>
<li>Less likely to develop anxiety after experiencing trauma or suffer from PTSD</li>
<li>Not having unwanted images, sounds, or music in one’s head</li>
<li>Less likely to be overwhelmed by grief</li>
<li>Good at processing information analytically and logically, which can be an asset in careers such as engineering or science</li>
<li>Easier to be present and in the moment</li>
<li>Higher ability to <a href="https://www.profjoelpearson.com/intuition" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">retain information</a> in the face of distraction</li>
<li>Less prone to daydreaming and, therefore, a better ability to focus on tasks requiring mental concentration</li>
<li>People with aphantasia tend to have a higher average IQ (115 scores compared to 110 for the general population)</li>
<li>Less affected by scary stories since they can’t be visualized</li>
<li>Lower sensory processing sensitivity; weaker reactions to loud noises, bright lights, and strong smells. (High sensory processing sensitivity may be related to some<a href="https://childmind.org/article/sensory-processing-issues-explained/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia"> </a><a href="https://childmind.org/article/sensory-processing-issues-explained/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">mental health issues</a>)</li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Some Mysteries Solved</b></p>
<p>Not all the supposed benefits ring true for me, but some do. </p>
<p>In my youth, I backpacked around the world and had the poor timing to end up in Iran days before the start of the revolution. I’ve always felt good about myself for remaining relatively calm and rational during a particularly fierce battle at the Air Force base, where I taught English. The situation was so dire that several of the military personnel protecting us broke down crying. That was not reassuring!  </p>
<p>Perhaps my aphantasia helped me to logically analyze the situation despite the noise and chaos of bullets, grenades, tanks, and a helicopter gunship strafing the building I was in. Although it did take me a few years to decompress fully, my aphantasia also probably helped me deal with the trauma.</p>
<p>Knowing I have aphantasia has helped me understand why I’m a visual learner. </p>
<p>I often ask my staff to present drawings or prototypes to help me comprehend their ideas better. </p>
<p>During a backyard renovation project a few years back, I insisted that the designer show me 3D drawings instead of 2D ones. I even had her create a physical mockup for a large (and expensive) water feature. I must have seemed very demanding. In the future, I can explain why that extra work helps me.</p>
<p>I’m still discovering other ways that aphantasia may have affected my life. It just dawned on me that my peers could visualize the questions and possible answers when I was sitting exams in my school days. That would have been handy!</p>
<p>I read “The Lord of the Rings” as a teenager. In a conversation with a friend about aphantasia, I was stunned to hear she visualizes the fictional worlds created in books. </p>
<p>While trekking through Nepal's vast mountains and misty valleys during my round-the-world backpacking trip, I remember thinking, “This is what Middle-earth must look like.” Unlike her, I had to see something tangible to visualize what most people can do effortlessly.</p>
<p>Counting sheep can supposedly help you fall asleep. When I tried, I couldn’t visualize sheep, so I assumed this was a figure of speech. I still find it hard to believe that some people can picture sheep. I’m sure I will discover other things in the days ahead.</p>
<p>I’ve lived for many decades in blissful ignorance that I have aphantasia. I don't feel it’s impeded my life. However, I have to confess I’m pretty envious that most people can see and hear a loved one in their head. I wish I could do that with my Mum.</p>
<p>Try the above tests on people you know. Prepare to blow their mind - or yours!</p>
<h2>Remember with My Stories Matter</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">My Stories Matter</a> enables you to preserve your memories safely digitally. You can share them with others and even create a Life Stories Book as a keepsake or gift.</p>
<p>We are our memories. I hope that fellow aphants will find the many unique features of My Stories Matter helpful in overcoming the challenges posed by our condition. And, even if you don’t have aphantasia, I hope you will enjoy using our application.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">Sign up</a> today for free.</p>
<p>And let me know if you’re also a member of the club!</p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>


My Mind’s Eye is Blind, is Yours?

Aphantasia: Simple Test, What to Do, and Surprising Benefits

Unlocking Happiness: How Positive Psychology Can Change Your Life

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<p> </p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Why is keeping a journal so beneficial?</b></p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling improves a person's general quality of life and mental and physical health. Not only that, you’ll eternally have a record of your life that you can always look back on and never feel judged for expressing yourself. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">If you’re new to journaling, you’ve come to the right place.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">In this post, we'll look at five science-backed advantages of journaling. Let’s dive in!</b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling Eases Anxiety </b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Many people struggle with anxiety. If you’re one of them, take up journaling! Keeping a journal is a good stress management strategy. After all, emotion-focused writing is connected <a href="https://mental.jmir.org/2018/4/e11290/" title="journaling ">with lower mental discomfort and greater well-being</a>.  </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">In a study with 70 people with high anxiety levels, writing online for 12 weeks <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6305886/" title="journaling ">dramatically lessened</a> their mental anguish. In addition, patients, families, and medical staff from a children’s hospital reported feeling<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6907914/" title="journaling "> less stressed</a> after performing the following journaling exercise:</b></p>
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<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Writing three things they are grateful for</b></p>
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<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Writing the story of their life in six words</b></p>
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<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Writing three wishes they had</b></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Go ahead - try that exercise for yourself!</b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling Helps with Past Trauma </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">When a loved one has passed away, keeping a <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/8-creative-ways-to-keep-the-memory-of-a-loved-one-alive/" title="journaling ">journal may help you grieve healthily</a>. You have the privacy to work through your feelings and maintain some form of communication with your loved one. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling can aid in reducing the psychological anguish we experience in response to trauma. For example, people who journaled for 15 minutes each day reported <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197455605000699?via%3Dihub" title="journaling ">feeling less depressed, anxious, or hostile</a>. </b></p>
<p><b>Even those who struggle with severe illnesses benefit from journaling! Those with post-traumatic stress disorder engaging in expressive writing exercises experienced their moods </b><b id="docs-internal-guid-65c9fffe-7fff-d740-0ab0-cfac7d8e6d05"><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18230238/" title="journaling ">significantly improving and their stress hormone reactions to painful memories decreasing.</a> </b> </p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling Decreases Depression </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Depression is nothing to be ashamed of; globally, <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression" title="journaling ">5% of adults suffer from depression</a>. However, the natural remedy of journaling helps ease depression. Journaling can be as helpful as cognitive-behavioral therapy in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17007812/" title="journaling ">lowering the risk of depression</a> in young people. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Did you know that when people with severe depressive illnesses wrote for 20 minutes each day for three days about their most intense thoughts and feelings related to an emotional experience, their depression ratings <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23790815/" title="journaling ">significantly decreased</a>?</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">In addition, students who journaled about their most intense emotions the month before a major exam experienced <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9364758/" title="journaling ">fewer depressive symptoms</a> since they didn't focus as much on intrusive thoughts. </b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling Increases Gratitude </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Listing your blessings has become more popular over the past several years. But there’s truth to it! Journaling <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10447-017-9289-8" title="journaling ">encourages thankfulness</a> - of all things! </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">In one study, journaling weekly was <a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/pdfs/GratitudePDFs/6Emmons-BlessingsBurdens.pdf" title="journaling ">linked to more pronounced increases in general optimism</a>. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Try a Gratitude Journal! Every night, set aside five minutes to jot down the three things you are most thankful for. They don't need anything big or significant; they can be as simple as the rain on your windowsill or your favorite cup of coffee. </b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling Sharpens Your Memory </b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Is there a particular event you don’t want to forget? Such as hiking through the Himalayas, that Sunday picnic, or a family reunion? Your first kiss? </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/sharing-memories--5-unique-ways-you-haven't-thought-of/" title="journaling ">Keeping a journal helps enhance your working memory. </a></b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">In one study, first-year college students who wrote down their thoughts and feelings had <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2001-18060-012" title="journaling ">less intrusive and avoidant thoughts during the day</a>, which allowed more space for remembering. Similarly, college-bound teenagers who wrote in-depth about their feelings and ideas regarding college showed <a href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/sep01/keepdiary" title="journaling ">improved short-term memory and academic performance</a>. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">When you journal, those precious memories never have to fade; you can <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-to-relive-a-memory/" title="journaling ">relive them over and over</a>. </b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journal on My Stories Matter </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Start the journal you've always wanted! </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">You can create a virtual backup of your essential work so that you may view, modify, and download it whenever you choose and group your journal entries into Collections.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Unlike other social media apps, your private journal entries are only visible to you. However, you can also choose to share specific entries with friends.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="journaling ">Sign up for free</a> and begin journaling today! </b></p>


The Many Cognitive Benefits of Journaling

<h1>Learning Styles: Real or Not Real? </h1>
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<p>	Many teachers and counselors have taught the idea that there are distinct learning styles. You probably have heard of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_learning" title="Learning style ">visual</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_learning" title="Learning style ">auditory</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinesthetic_learning" title="Learning style">kinesthetic</a> learning styles. <a href="https://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-research" title="Learning style ">Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences</a> also proposes that people can learn in eight different ways.</p>
<p>However, do learning styles actually exist? </p>
<p>While labeling how you learn would be nice and convenient, our brains are more complicated than that. </p>
<p>Read on to find out the truth about learning styles and what this means for you. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Science Debunks Learning Styles</h1>
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<p>One popular learning style theory is Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences which states that there are multiple intelligences—Linguistic, Logical-mathematical, Spatial, Bodily-kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalist. Gardner claims that these eight types of bits of intelligence can be naturally applied to learning styles. </p>
<p>However, there is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289621000507" title="Learning style ">not enough evidence to support Gardner’s view</a>. </p>
<p>While a one-size-fits-all type of intelligence is inaccurate, further research is still needed before applying learning styles in class.</p>
<p>Since the 1970s, research has concluded that learning styles have <a href="https://www.educationnext.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ednext_XX_3_furey.pdf" title="Learning style ">no empirical evidence of being real</a>. They merely stemmed from an incorrect interpretation of scientific facts. Different types of information are processed in various brain parts the same way people have differences in abilities and preferences. </p>
<p>For several decades, myths about the brain — neuromyths — have <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn3817" title="Learning style ">persisted in academic institutions</a>. </p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/edu-a0037478.pdf" title="Learning style ">one survey</a>, teachers were given statements and were asked if the statements were “correct,” “incorrect,” or “do not know.” Results showed that 93% of teachers from the United Kingdom and 96% from the Netherlands answered “correct” to the statement: “Individuals learn better when they receive information in their preferred learning style.” </p>
<p>But how one prefers to study is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360131516302482?via%3Dihub" title="Learning style ">not an indication of a learning style</a>. While many people <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/20697325" title="Learning style ">prefer different types of studying or learning</a>, research <a href="https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/LearningStylesMyth" title="Learning style ">denies that people learn better through a particular learning style</a>. </p>
<p>For example, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1041608006000331" title="Learning style ">one study</a> had a wide variety of adults and college students take a learning test using visuals or written text. The verbalizers' and visualizers’ grades showed no strong support for verbal and visual learners to be given different instruction. </p>
<p>So scholars stress how learning styles <a href="https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ase.1777" title="Learning style ">should be rejected</a> by educators and students alike. Instead, they should replace these ‘neuromyths’ with resources and strategies rooted in evidence and invite students to reflect on their learning rather than narrowing their style down. </p>
<p>This will, in turn, <a href="https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/LearningStylesMyth" title="Learning style ">improve learning outcomes</a>. Instructors shouldn’t categorize students in their learning and instead through their personalities and experiences. For example, they can incorporate active learning, group work, and various teaching strategies. <br />
	 </p>
<h1>Learn and Remember with My Stories Matter</h1>
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<p>Now that we’ve established that there is not enough evidence to suggest learning styles exist, what next? </p>
<p><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a> uses a variety of “cues” to help you recall the past or anything important that you want to remember. </p>
<p>If you’re not a fan of typing or have achy fingers, <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter </a>allows you to record your notes on the go because hearing yourself speak aloud actually <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171201090940.htm" title="Learning style ">improves your memory</a>!</p>
<p><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="My Stories Matter">Sign up</a> today for free!</p>


Learning Styles: Real or Not Real?

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<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3dbef574-7fff-506d-ad98-4ed5667b30f3">We all have a nostalgic song that transports us to our adolescent days. Maybe Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” reminds you of hapless teenage attempts at an 80s mullet. Perhaps the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” elicits memories of uncoordinated hip gyrations and tight leather pants. Or maybe, Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” induces flashbacks to middle school imitations of the music video’s signature hand-flip. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3dbef574-7fff-506d-ad98-4ed5667b30f3">Your early musical memories could be more influential than you think. The songs you listened to during middle and high school may form your music taste for the rest of your life. </b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34">Music and Data Science </b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34">Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, who elaborated upon his insights in a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/opinion/sunday/favorite-songs.html" title="nostalgia songs">New York Times op-ed</a>, proposed this theory. Having obtained a collection of Spotify data about the listening habits of men and women by age group, Davidowitz analyzed the frequency at which each group listened to a particular song. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34"> Surprisingly, the information from Spotify showed clear musical taste delineation by birth year. Specifically, the data showed that people were far more likely to continuously listen to popular nostalgic songs during adolescence. For example, 38-year-old men proved far more likely to enjoy “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkzRNyygfk" title="nostalgia songs">Creep</a>” by Radiohead than any other age group (the song came out in 1993 when these men were 14). Such patterns persisted for countless artists and songs—if you listened to a lot of Linda Ronstadt in your youth, chances are you still think “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haZPPBJC8Ic" title="nostalgia songs">You’re No Good</a>” is...pretty good. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34"> Furthermore, the analysis narrowed down the specific 3-year window that profoundly affected music taste. Boys, Davidowitz claims, form the majority of their music taste between the ages of 13 and 16. For girls, this period is earlier, with music taste formation falling between 11 and 14. The difference, Davidowitz proposes, could result from the difference in biological development by gender—girls <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3613238/" title="nostalgia songs">go through puberty earlier</a> and mature faster than boys do. This hypothesis would make logical sense through research that shows <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201312/scientists-identify-why-girls-often-mature-faster-boys" title="nostaglia songs">puberty’s effect on re-shaping neural connections</a>—our music tastes are wired into our brains. </b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">Music and Me</b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">Though COVID-19 has temporarily paused live concerts, I fondly remember my 2019 trip to see Paul McCartney perform in San Jose. In addition to the concert ticket, I attended an hour’s exclusive pre-concert rehearsal. I was thrilled by the opportunity to see McCartney “unfiltered,” his jangling notes resonating among an intimate audience of about 75 super-fans. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">McCartney has a vast catalog of Beatles, Wings, and solo songs that even a typical 3-hour concert still leaves him with a surfeit of unplayed hits. However, in support of Davidowitz’s point, McCartney proved he isn’t immune to the effects of nostalgia. For the soundcheck, he chose to play several cover songs. His choice of borrowed material—including Carl Perkins’ “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm5HKlQ6nGM" title="nostalgia songs">Blue Suede Shoes</a>” and “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-M-mr-0wSw" title="nostalgia songs">Honey Don’t</a>,” Buddy Holly’s “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-M-mr-0wSw" title="nostalgia songs">It’s So Easy</a>,” and Jesse Fuller’s “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBME_J0pf3o" title="nostalgia songs">San Francisco Bay Blues</a>”—featured nostalgic songs that were released during his formative teenage years. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">The release dates of those four cover songs couldn’t more perfectly coordinate with the New York Times’s findings. The four songs formed a chronological progression of the development of McCartney’s musical taste, from the animated, sensual notes of Carl Perkins to the playful, blues-influenced sounds of Buddy Holly. Though McCartney’s song choice could attribute to his sentimentality for the past, the precise relationship between the age range proposed by Davidowitz and the songs’ release date is unlikely to be coincidental. “Blue Suede Shoes” and “San Francisco Bay Blues” were released when McCartney was 13, “Honey Don’t” when he was 14, and “It’s So Easy” when he was 16.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">I mused about my sentimental connection with Paul McCartney’s music at the night's end. I was 15 when the Beatles broke up. Perhaps, I am nostalgic for the years in which I had few responsibilities and unlimited time. Or maybe, my adolescent brain was subconsciously shaped by the ubiquitous music of the Beatles. In either case, my love for the Beatles has stayed with me throughout my life. Of course, depending on your age, your taste in music, and which songs you find nostalgic may be different!</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2"><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="nostalgia songs">My Stories Matter</a> has Spotify playlists that help you remember nostalgic songs from each decade. <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="nostalgia songs">Sign up</a> today for free and bask in the nostalgia!</b></p>


Your adolescence may be more influential to your music taste than you think

Why You Prefer Nostalgic Songs From Your Teenage Years

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<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-a931fb60-7fff-ba70-9e0e-05119050a44c">10/10 is World Mental Health day. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused us to feel more <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/" title="mental health day ">isolated from socializing than before</a>, especially as the lifting of social distancing restrictions has been slower than expected after the vaccine rollout. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-a931fb60-7fff-ba70-9e0e-05119050a44c">During periods of isolation, many people increased their time on social media to stay connected. This week’s outage showed how reliant we are on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We also learned from a whistleblower<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/10/05/1043377310/facebook-whistleblower-frances-haugen-congress" title="mental health day "> how Facebook places profits over its users’ mental well-being</a>. </b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1182878c-7fff-37ca-985f-7f5978b29ce6">What Happened to Facebook This Week</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1182878c-7fff-37ca-985f-7f5978b29ce6">Last Monday’s 6-hour outage highlighted how many individuals and businesses have become dependent on social media. The disruption affected billions of users across all of Facebook’s apps, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Oculus. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1182878c-7fff-37ca-985f-7f5978b29ce6">However, Tuesday’s Senate subcommittee testimony by former Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower Frances Haugen may have more significant and longer-term ramifications for Facebook. She confirmed what many psychologists and researchers have stated for years. Facebook’s business model is harmful to its users’ mental health and the well-being of society as a whole. She also claimed that the ends justify the means as far as Mark Zuckerberg is concerned. And, in this case, the ‘ends’ are ‘more time on Facebook, more ads, and more profits.’</b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0d151c91-7fff-4efa-2e3f-037fae78f359">How Instagram Damages Mental Health, Especially for Teenage Girls</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0d151c91-7fff-4efa-2e3f-037fae78f359">Social media platforms tend to focus on specific natural human behaviors and tendencies. Instagram, for example, encourages vanity and preys on the feeling of <a href="https://now.northropgrumman.com/this-is-your-brain-on-instagram-effects-of-social-media-on-the-brain/" title="mental health day ">FOMO</a> (Fear Of Missing Out).</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0d151c91-7fff-4efa-2e3f-037fae78f359">When we scroll through our Instagram feed, we see a highly edited view of someone else’s life. We see posts of people smiling at events, showing off their toned bodies, or posing next to an expensive sports car. Our own lives seem prosaic by comparison. Social media is designed to get you to click on the next piece of content, not reflect on the content's story. But serving up a fantasy of people’s perfectly curated lives diminishes the self-esteem of users who are not as beautiful, wealthy, or successful as the poster. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0d151c91-7fff-4efa-2e3f-037fae78f359">Our self-image develops during adolescence, which is also a time of hormonal imbalances. Unfortunately for adolescents, especially teenage girls, these filtered and Photoshopped images can drive many to depression and even suicide. The acne that develops on many of our faces doesn’t help. Unfortunately, this feeling of inadequacy is a perfect place for many advertisers to sell their products. “Just buy this product, and you’ll look like a fit actress!” </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0d151c91-7fff-4efa-2e3f-037fae78f359">While Facebook, which purchased Instagram in 2012, has often downplayed mental health concerns in public, its researchers have been conducting studies for the past three years into how the app affects its millions of young users. The <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/6/22712927/facebook-instagram-teen-mental-health-research" title="mental health day ">research shows that the platform can damage mental health and body image, especially teen girls</a>. "We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls," said one internal presentation slide. </b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e01618b-7fff-619e-4e91-8d722ae1e78e">Outrage Generates Clicks - Clicks Generate Money</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e01618b-7fff-619e-4e91-8d722ae1e78e">Although objectively, we live in the <a href="https://mashable.com/article/best-time-in-history" title="mental health day ">safest time in history</a>, many people think otherwise. Why is there such a disconnect between factual data and people’s perceptions? Facebook employs a tactic that Twitter, many other media, and social media platforms use to generate clicks - <a href="https://socialmediahq.com/how-social-media-sells-your-fear-and-outrage-for-profit/" title="mental health day ">outrage</a>. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e01618b-7fff-619e-4e91-8d722ae1e78e">With the rise of the internet, we can see everything happening worldwide and share our thoughts in real-time. However, the internet is a mixture of fact, fiction, and misinformation. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e01618b-7fff-619e-4e91-8d722ae1e78e">It doesn’t matter whether a post is accurate or not. What matters to the poster and Facebook is that it generates engagement in clicks, shares, and comments. Engagement provides a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/04/has-dopamine-got-us-hooked-on-tech-facebook-apps-addiction" title="mental health day ">dopamine</a> hit to the sign and lures advertisers and investors to the platform. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e01618b-7fff-619e-4e91-8d722ae1e78e">Truth is not the currency of social media. A study shows that misinformation from the 2020 election <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/09/03/facebook-misinformation-nyu-study/" title="mental health day ">got six times more clicks</a> on Facebook than factual news. And this holds for recent information - a post on Facebook about one vaccinated person dying from Covid-19 has more impact than posts about the many lives saved by vaccines. Facebook doesn’t ban this type of misinformation outright. A significant portion of the wealth of Facebook’s senior management team is tied to Facebook’s stock price. Remember, more engagement = more ad dollars = more profits = higher stock price. ‘Truth’ is not a part of that equation.</b></p>
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="8" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-11-03T223529.625.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=R78wLpwK0BPJIcgk4bPLfNMyaWE1%2FnMgiHuczIKo4V7T%2F%2BHUWrGU%2FJBnzc4oljqDI7oXcRkYHFcTwRvClpIawcyLzP0VZ2Ii3hICEvPWY4fKy6savfYmKI75BgOgAjpNGHJ1zosnjh2qF8zeJolpNMo6bQfHhGfObySzkmLAqI3DVoM%2BoljtRlHyPMYiWbBHEciy02g9RfW5uyOy7iOmgpEUDXH%2FpwvHpGIBVQWMcNEDZSelRN5UAhlk6391neEwTYQ92MwuoZX%2Bj7BvM7UYfybE%2BX5ZwUWwdzBVFbIzcSR3ulW9jxBmcKxmMQ4dnUm4i5KCGAaV7XfGOpzbSydk8Q%3D%3D" alt="Self care isn't selfish sign" />  </div>

  
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</div>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-438cd09e-7fff-cc49-7f61-e54494aa48b8">How You Can Take Control of Your Mental Health</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-438cd09e-7fff-cc49-7f61-e54494aa48b8">Facebook is not the same as face-to-face interaction; it cannot replace other forms of communication or meaningful social relationships.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-438cd09e-7fff-cc49-7f61-e54494aa48b8">While it may be too much to ask people to delete their Facebook accounts, moderating usage is achievable. <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm" title="mental health day ">A 2018 University of Pennsylvania study</a> found that reducing social media use to 30 minutes a day significantly reduced anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-438cd09e-7fff-cc49-7f61-e54494aa48b8">Use that saved time to focus on the people and things that truly matter. Do the opinions of strangers mean more to you than those of the people who know you intimately and care about you deeply?</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-438cd09e-7fff-cc49-7f61-e54494aa48b8">Unlike Facebook, our free application, <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="mental health day ">My Stories Matter</a>, is built on a foundation of positive psychology. We don’t have ads and don’t sell or share your data. We are also age-friendly! My Stories Matter is purpose-built to provide a safe place to connect with the people you care about. Use it to reminisce and collaborate with friends and family, write a memoir, share your hard-earned life lessons with others, or preserve your life lessons.</b></p>


Why it's important to find a balance between social media and mental health

How You Can Take Care of Yourself on World Mental Health Day

<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13992" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/lemon-scent-candle">Lemon Scent Candle</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/lemon-candle-6668364_640.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=nOD0%2FeM1kjHQpNB3Wx7W8zWM1jteQ4PECJpcxIZ7mSC9tyTqBCuGWog3oZzwvq27Kfw83kPbR5LcEQwNqwTSpL4iL%2BJ%2FWKjDysiX4xorm72Il%2FBIqlbQM974QA8GUguK7SoDiRbBksplN3Vnq8fOMzWmNRO7cSV1nWAr0L9UTvpiIJ3dVZphrz6UrkrBTX%2BqqWn2Xc3XZAOerMECkWWr105pTg8vIorT6j3pVMHo2sof1taIn6x9qPzs0bpHzc3%2FgCbVvuoF7dfA27txTVbSiNgyhnSEtyRTIebHTodh375kXoXgpCP3Wc7kYkLrKLTKL28vIA2%2FA1GTCpkKrVQo4Q%3D%3D" width="427" height="640" alt="Scent triggers memorable memories, like this lemon candle" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7f27c50f-7fff-aca9-80f5-e5e248f0b0bd">Some smells trigger memories from a particular time in your life. For instance, does the aroma of freshly baked brownies always bring back memories of your best friend’s mom’s cooking? Or when you walk by the local pool and smell the chlorinated water, do childhood summer memories flash through your mind? </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-7f27c50f-7fff-aca9-80f5-e5e248f0b0bd">How can we remember vivid memories when we smell something we consider nostalgic? This phenomenon is called the  “<a href="https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199685875.001.0001/acprof-9780199685875" title="proust effect">Proust Effect</a>” — after the novelist Marcel Proust wrote about childhood memories triggered by the aroma of freshly baked madeleine cakes — this process was once thought of as purely involuntary.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7f27c50f-7fff-aca9-80f5-e5e248f0b0bd">But this memory process doesn’t have to be involuntary. We can hack the process of memory formation to our advantage. By proactively using scent daily in our lives, we can intensify experiences and fortify memory formation, helping to make life a richer and more enjoyable experience.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7f27c50f-7fff-aca9-80f5-e5e248f0b0bd">Memorable moments make us who we are. Our mind’s interpretation of events shapes our world experience, and present-day stimuli act as doorways to our past. They connect us to all we cherish and the people we hold dear. Unfortunately, time and age can rob us of our ability to recall those memories.</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13999" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/post-it-note-0">post it note</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="5" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/post-it-notes-2836842_640_1.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=WyJXulQPDMQGFtWugj7v6j%2FdqXlwh1egbcUz7KPkq8CXfXDmWHWJrbv0kD6WLm65oJXSXwUDNWsxjPRVqgSmUPZ6YPQtruGHcHPHWIBM65MbWXFgYotRNMxBsjpSPrAsVEFKsafse4utiS%2ByBQbieb%2FGp1f06dq3TUuCmgDNhof2jtX95e6T2w%2FkbSBxZ2LktjrkDbn8BS%2B5wsUoc1YdvasEqw%2Bolq0jOFxAShWP1Xu2MLfkk7Ohk36eMQlOLsTc%2F17je3QDCefHZ0BDgkSeDu2KHPdjarVAEzs8zVWEHDFhKKzIG8BiGDQHFeKE8xL09lpX9qtjwmxXdsKhGFig0A%3D%3D" width="640" height="426" alt="Writing it down can help with memorable memories" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-7873ce5e-7fff-5f92-76ec-c1732ad9ec3b">The Science of Memory Cues</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7873ce5e-7fff-5f92-76ec-c1732ad9ec3b">Whenever we experience something, our brain (specifically, the hippocampus) encodes sensory details (such as sounds) as part of memory formation. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14670575/" title="Proust effect">These sensory details are wired into our brains as memory cues</a>. When you re-encounter a cue, it triggers the associated memory — along with the thoughts, feelings, and emotions you initially experienced.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7873ce5e-7fff-5f92-76ec-c1732ad9ec3b">We can use our understanding of this process to purposefully manage memory formation to benefit ourselves in the future and easily recall our memorable memories when we want to look back.</b></p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-18682" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-100jpeg">resized-image-Promo (100).jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="7" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%28100%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=Y5rpWxlWRAtnbr2p%2B7Fl3QSpSD5h6gVaDyKTppkVgtaEk5aRf20z8ogZnEB35qq74thwjPXPnXSHCO4SuGUWdJIUh2ywrIe4qn95mMR4rkDmQBYF%2FFwKSFO6K6GMQIgBGbhtJYGH%2FBa9e%2FHA%2BtkACs82o4gZUU85x4hnEPcio4LiX3%2BY0dU7j243MiU%2Fx4AzzTkdUUa0zEq8Fz1HUN0M2iNKpFALu%2B%2BPD52qYYLtYXN4HxfLEb86phs8FYkCaVH9ueZ3K9A4blFxVRmJj7%2F6jWNxzLvdR5uTnYp1I1W%2BiO%2BY7sjUdKjeDsxBn4XXz3kYDw1ltKqcgugWk6Xg2D5PTg%3D%3D" alt="woman holding bottles of flowers" />  </div>

  
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</div></h1>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-56c8cbce-7fff-d563-bd70-4d0b0994b5b9">How Scent is Different from Other Sensory Cues</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-56c8cbce-7fff-d563-bd70-4d0b0994b5b9">We all know what it’s like to hear a song that triggers feelings and memories. However, scent is unique in its ability to trigger <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028393212004617" title="proust effect">particularly vivid memories</a>. Why?</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-56c8cbce-7fff-d563-bd70-4d0b0994b5b9">For most of our senses, information processing starts at the sensing organ (such as our eyes), then moves to the brain’s ‘relay station,’ the thalamus, which in turn sends each signal to the relevant sense-processing area (for example, the visual cortex in the case of sight).</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-56c8cbce-7fff-d563-bd70-4d0b0994b5b9">Scent signals bypass the relay station and go directly to the olfactory bulb's processor site. This means that, unlike our other senses, there is no intermediate activity between sensing and processing. Scent-based experiences are enhanced and more enriched.</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-14000" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/christmas-scented-candle-1">Christmas scented candle</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="6" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/candle-5960786_640_2.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=TWmsVqZUwGQF3th5BEr1xw8qnNvqd1JKitbhfgU5MLVDVykuYvBmp8bBN5vE4FYkRPfOwOPOvc%2B%2BLv6HWJ%2BEIWRE%2Bahv%2Fh754lTE9kRoHLF7MvunYtRHEOYKy%2BblQIsHRWz12%2BiyISM9q%2F2LNj7t1mztB8orBd98BmT0meXhocUQ7UfdnHkcKg0srbM2OfVmn86e8AP2LT78LA1o%2FuDx1S%2FQcX60Hein%2Ff3Xi2WzW0fPP5crRCsniozjNkXTP7h1WEqBIK9Lh%2BhxpzrkB4%2FVHLc7H5EloRkPG8d6f7snfJ3j4m2dCZZATMaMxYDhGRLPxZhQ%2FZIAbiTAbYTawMZE5Q%3D%3D" width="480" height="640" alt="Maybe Christmas scented candles give you memorable memories from christmas" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-c7b8bc91-7fff-15df-8550-b080d269533b">The Special Connection Between Scent and Memories</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-c7b8bc91-7fff-15df-8550-b080d269533b">Scent’s ability to trigger vivid and emotional memories is partly due to the close connection between the scent processing center (the olfactory bulb) and the parts of the brain responsible for emotion and memory — the amygdala and hippocampus, respectively.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-c7b8bc91-7fff-15df-8550-b080d269533b"><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-05131-6" title="proust effect">According to Afif J. Aqrabawi and Jun Chul Kim</a>, “The olfactory cortex in particular shares exclusive anatomical connections with the hippocampus due to their common evolutionary history.” </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-c7b8bc91-7fff-15df-8550-b080d269533b">There may be more to aromatherapy than many of us think! Evolution has made the scent a high priority. Only 3% of our genes are involved in forming the 1,000 olfactory receptors we possess. In 2004, <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2004/press-release/" title="proust effect">Doctors Buck and Axel won a Nobel Prize for explaining how these receptors enable us to recognize 10,000 different scents</a>.</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-18683" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-11-03t221652518jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-11-03T221652.518.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="8" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-11-03T221652.518.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=n1OwyPyvQk5g8lY2g2gsIVh7vsg8%2FvSIqAPkLdLjj7QgjFAqtL05NWuOcjODqtOQCm0%2FRWd0YuGnNXeyCoQjTQehNi4j6g%2FpCUIiDh9mNOwWOb8mvlYaiM%2B9EG0fhaG4yEtqD7cEvzd1VNC5HVRXiqEIBL%2FbP6xEYMY05iOkhjCFr6AYClXonDEtGDmKJXWDo%2F%2BMNgTev9OPYg3%2BrSz7pZZDl7qamTPUOo6cj8WkeyXX0bsIKYGPLRTiobfYTENXIz%2FluGveMsZ25r%2BN6KqQxqmxztl9EVt1wYY7jXESvp1aowgNAWaeEQ%2FWtnLC1ZLaI5PXlsUx734sR66uQw1bEw%3D%3D" alt="Two Clear Glass Bottles With Liquids" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0e61ca52-7fff-4491-1eb3-0026b216a834">Richer Memory Formation</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0e61ca52-7fff-4491-1eb3-0026b216a834">You can use scent to build more memorable memories. The next time you do something you enjoy, think about using scent to ingrain the memory deep in your mind.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0e61ca52-7fff-4491-1eb3-0026b216a834">Say you’re going on a vacation. Pick a scent — an essential oil, an herb, or a perfume — and designate it as the ‘special scent’ for your adventure. Regularly avail yourself of the scent throughout your travels. Later, sometime after returning home, break out your ‘special scent’ and see what happens. Memories — and the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that went with them — will wash over you, taking you back and helping you to relive the experience. Try this technique with special events, people, and anything else you want to remember. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0e61ca52-7fff-4491-1eb3-0026b216a834">Want to eternalize your memorable memories? Preserve them forever at <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="proust effect">My Stories Matter</a> for free.</b></p>


Trigger your memorable memories using scent

Scent of a Memory and the Proust Effect

<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13983" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/camera-photos">Camera with photos</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/camera-1130731_640.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=cWj4FbRuVkLRQG63el5mbm0pNz2qc6jOE%2FkANozRD7QffcesnjO0wVei2lGM8mZxVyaw%2Bbs3W4bFKpmGWQDj%2BAG0w6%2F9iIdPmZIgGH3zYgAEWfjljlz2Hnx5qaBMzw%2BA72xToyfcO3K7ANmXe96dwbgcJBEbPnAY9pUsvG1ZFTaw2WNzC5T%2BKHAUd8UHf8nrxDvusAAFOme3JfZrx2Orqjlr7xzGytw8ih4V1eQvlmis9kvMhnS8ki2rmUQ7jZnQqkA9%2FdqTnGnk%2FmxDvdWuRfJbFoOGPe2XnBUQRX3XPbp5n6903E6T11506rNhwF68uUXrmdMMYMjo24hMEO8Eqw%3D%3D" width="640" height="480" alt="Reminiscing about life photos" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">There’s no better feeling than reminiscing about life in the good ole days. You know, before mobile phones, the internet, and microwaves. When there were no text messages to interrupt your day, no instant “likes” to make you feel good, and no 2-day shipping with a 100% return and refund policy.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">We are told we live in the safest and healthiest time in human history — so Harvard Psychology Professor Steven Pinker tells us. The “good old days” were less secure and beneficial than we may assume while fondly reminiscing about life in the past.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">Yet researchers know that when we reminisce about life, our memories — and the feelings and emotions they evoke — tend to skew positive.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">If life was objectively more difficult in the past, why does our reminiscing tend to do this? Why do we view our history through the rose-colored lens?</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13986" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/scale-question-marks">Scale with question marks</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/scale-2635397_640_0.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=ZsN26MgZVSIN5%2F4TX1dItRZFdGodP617VlVTVZsG%2FlaYDdK8tzWxO%2FKeLffUoLYPwC3z1sJhPpJsCcxZO86wIQOJGUQGhm43c6YbBZTXzNlWpUEZXBWrNkXQSrySpfzdSg2yLzc3Ijd4ENj2PNoZ0RoTXpX%2BMi4Mt4vA%2BQEVTdk77dE1%2BMx4OpahlOBLK6b2XuKkuqoQzuCd4MafqXv6Mi3ZzmVKBiv4U%2BunesgKaTe3nyKFXr9jVC5y0DLtoh%2FuU5Kl2zFQfT2evM6BIGReUA7ft0HO31Y7mU41Tn4vQUOgysh7Xe41VtfG1CEu5Gz6FO%2B7sYk0OiDyDPXshBBC%2BQ%3D%3D" width="640" height="355" alt="When reminiscing about life, good memories outweigh the bad" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>

<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">Good Feelings Outweigh the Bad</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">Negative feelings from our memories diminish faster than positive ones. This is known as the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fading_affect_bias#:~:text=The%20fading%20affect%20bias%2C%20more,those%20associated%20with%20positive%20emotions." title="nostaglia goggles ">fading affect bias</a>."</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">In a study published in the Review of General Psychology, participants recorded memories and rated how they felt about each memory. Three weeks later, participants rated their feelings for those memories. The study shows that we leave more positive feelings overall for our aggregated memories. Negative emotions related to bad memories tended to diminish faster than positive feelings related to good memories.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">So, why does this happen? Is it because we distort our life events to be more positive when we experience them?</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">Probably not. In another study, participants recorded events in their life as they occurred and how they felt about them — a diary. At the events, negative feelings were just as strong as positive ones.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">After some time (3.5 months, one year, and 4.5 years), the participants re-rated how they felt about the life events. As in the previous study, the intensity of negative feelings around bad events faded significantly faster than positive feelings for suitable events. This suggests that your brain prioritizes positive emotions when reminiscing about life.</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13988" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/blonde-woman-camera">Blonde woman with camera</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/blonde-629726_640_0.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=YQytACgvEjb32ssxtpwKC1nv%2B%2BjiqiL%2FgD6B91Pv%2Fa7Ar1JcdMqUPDhSAAnp%2FcIqCq5w2qEp2wzBA3PPYevY2XCh3BrRIputwVdBxJfk10bmKT%2FSprv135dghk%2Bpl1TavFILIpi9sycPXDACUXs%2BcydTndXTeciDgCAihIW6UzsfooVB4e4pigoahTu4wPm0DBZVtgD9ndZro%2BFyenBwGkGSQ9iUbGRyHGgrfOufTo6Uv0G%2FJzG7KF9Q%2BTXr082OzGb1jSTKrrqvsDAmJe9VCn5SyfSzMbXdpFtI5qKJopslCId6N2%2BDeObJAGag%2Bdu1gjzH1EuqnsvmrMMEPWX%2Fmg%3D%3D" width="640" height="427" alt="" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">More Good Memories Than Bad Memories?</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Participants recalled childhood memories in a study published in Psychological Monographs: General and Applied. They then rated their memories as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. People reported 50% pleasant memories, 30% unpleasant, and 20% neutral.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Another study re-created this research using a sensory deprivation tank to ensure nothing in the room somehow influenced people's positive emotions. The responses changed. Now participants reported 66% pleasant memories and 33% unpleasant ones. Of the 20% neutral memories, virtually all became positive.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Interestingly, even for memories that we recall involuntarily — those that randomly pop into our minds throughout the day (what we call “MindPops™”) — positive recollections outnumber negative ones. The data showed that 49% of these involuntarily recalled memories were pleasant, while only 19% were unpleasant.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Not only do we have more positive memories than negative ones, but the bad feelings from our negative memories also dissipate faster, leaving us with happier feelings for our memories overall.</b></p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">What does all this mean for you?</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">It means that when you're reminiscing about life, you are far more likely to recollect something positive and feel positive. Over time, your perspective of past events will become more positive.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Furthermore, reminiscing about life in the past is good for your health. A sense of nostalgia can <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-53195-3_5" title="nostaglia ">increase psychological resilience</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29430666/" title="nostaglia ">improve relationships</a>, and <a href="https://health.usnews.com/wellness/mind/articles/2018-12-26/how-nostalgia-can-be-good-for-your-health-and-well-being" title="nostaglia ">boost mood and self-esteem</a>, thereby helping to enhance your overall emotional and psychological well-being.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Want to harness your memories as a means to greater well-being? Visit <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="nostaglia ">My Stories Matter</a> to start recording your memories for free!</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4"> To learn more about the positive feelings associated with reminiscing, check out this article: <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/why-you-get-happier-as-you-age/" title="nostaglia ">Why You Get Happier as You Age</a>.</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Studies Referenced</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Cason, H. (1932). The learning and retention of pleasant and unpleasant activities. Archives of Psychology, 134, 1–96.</li>
<li>Conway, M., &amp; Ross, M. (1984). Getting what you want by revising what you had. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 738–748.</li>
<li>Holmes, D. S. (1970). Differential changes in affective intensity and the forgetting of unpleasant personal experiences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3, 234–239.</li>
<li>Matlin, M. W., &amp; Stang, D. J. (1978). The Pollyanna principle. Cambridge, MA: Schenkman.</li>
<li>Robinson, J. A. (1980). Affect and retrieval of personal memories. Motivation and Emotion, 4, 149–174.</li>
<li>Ross, M. (1997). Validating memories. In N. K. Stein, P. A. Ornstein, B. Tversky, &amp; C. Brainerd (Eds.), Memory for everyday and emotional events (pp. 49–81). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.</li>
<li>Suedfeld, P., &amp; Eich, E. (1995). Autobiographical memory and affect under conditions of reduced environmental stimulation. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15, 321–326.</li>
<li>Thompson, C. P., Skowronski, J. J., Larsen, S., &amp; Betz, A. (1996). Autobiographical memory: Remembering what and remembering when. New York: Erlbaum.</li>
<li>Waldfogel, S. (1948). The frequency and affective character of childhood memories. Psychological Monographs, 62 (Whole №291).</li>
<li>Walker, W.R., Skowronski, J. J., &amp; Thompson, C. P. (2003). Life Is Pleasant — and Memory Helps to Keep It That Way!. Review of General Psychology Vol. 7, №2, 203–210.</li>
<li>Walker, W. R., Vogl, R. J., &amp; Thompson, C. P. (1997). Autobiographical memory: Unpleasantness fades faster than pleasantness over time. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 11, 399–413.</li>
<li>D. T., &amp; Axsom, D. (2000). Focalism: A source of durability bias in affective forecasting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 821–836.</li>
</ul>


Our natural bias towards happy memories over bad ones

What Causes Nostalgia Goggles?

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<h1>Who Is Telling the Truth?</h1>
<p>Scientific studies have proven eyewitness testimonies <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1706891114" title="The roshomon effect">unreliable</a>, with many organizations clamoring <a href="https://innocenceproject.org/dna-exonerations-in-the-united-states/" title="The roshomon effect">against their use in court</a>. However, in many cases, each witness is still telling the truth — or the truth as they perceive it. Although not purposefully deceitful, their stories paint the same event differently. The fact of what occurred can only be found in the combination of all of these perspectives. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as the “Rashomon effect.”</p>
<h1>The Rashomon Effect </h1>
<p>The “Rashomon effect” originates from the 1950 Akira Kurosawa film <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-rashomon-1950" title="The Roshomon effect">Rashomon</a>. In the movie, four witnesses describe a mystery, and although every witness’s testimony is convincing in its own right, each individual’s account contradicts the rest. None of them worked together to form a collective memory. Philosophically, the film never settles on a specific version of “truth,” thus implying that every person’s performance was, in its way, correct.</p>
<p>Even if you haven’t seen <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-rashomon-1950" title="the roshomon effect">Rashomon</a>, you’ve probably heard of some of the media it inspired—from film to music to novels. For example, in the song “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW0DfsCzfq4" title="The roshomon effect">Summer Nights</a>” from the 1978 musical <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(musical)" title="the roshomon effect">Grease</a>, Sandy and Danny give their friends wildly contrasting accounts of their summer romance, from Sandy’s clear recollections to Danny’s steamy version of events.</p>
<p>Naturally, every individual will have a slightly different version of the same event, influenced by their subjective emotional state, expectations, and life experiences.</p>
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<h1>Collaboration Trumps Monologue  </h1>
<p>My Stories Matter approaches the memory-recording process from a communal perspective. Rather than quarrel over differences in memory, we can celebrate them! Inviting others to collaborate, where c input is added as color-coded text incorporated into the original memory. As others fill in the gaps, you create a richer, more detailed story. </p>
<p>To quote Akira Kurosawa, “<a href="https://quotefancy.com/quote/1282177/Akira-Kurosawa-It-is-the-power-of-memory-that-gives-rise-to-the-power-of-imagination#:~:text=Akira%20Kurosawa%20Quote%3A%20%E2%80%9CIt%20is,to%20the%20power%20of%20imagination.%E2%80%9D" title="The roshomon effect">memory gives rise to the imagination</a>.” By remembering the stories we share with others, we imagine new possibilities. Who knows where the truth lies? What matters is that we can share our experiences with those we love.</p>
<p>Ready to create a collective memory with your friends and family? <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="my stories matter">Sign up for free</a> to My Stories Matter Today!</p>


Work together to create a collective memory

The Rashomon Effect: The Different Ways an Event is Remembered

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    <img title="happiness curve" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/people-2583943_640_0.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331705&amp;Signature=KlWmWZnoKGzVOZq7fTQKAp3uFK2TylV6Vojwb7DYIKg7EKec3rwg7yBlZ5UD%2F7aaqeMdp5smdSXNvJfSpcQzpaYSDKTTlqMyaUTO%2BLwRxiP78kDAuy29GQ2XtEJ1NuJpBC8AUN%2BfO8h%2Fn96C7jGlz%2BpXdmVSgrIWzSdEb0lzX3ucpTs%2FIlYzpCEEg92JtnP7zsxrc30cM46lK50EwBYgD6xoMAL3O2msOX0YNuv2aZxAP6Q1rnzHoc1UDZWYMOADFhbeBBOmy0O8pxoqWjbjWmHhPP%2Fno8lFXCBbWVf%2FHyFP82%2B7NFNCy3kHYhuglVx5FTAdg2%2BBG%2FcY%2BeV868y1PQ%3D%3D" width="480" height="640" alt="Happiness in age" />  </div>

  
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<p>Which period of life was your happiest? </p>
<p>Chances are you’d say young adulthood. Your body is in great shape, and friends and family surround you. The world is your oyster.</p>
<p>However, <a href="https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/mental/improvement-in-mental-health-with-aging/" title="happiness curve">research</a> suggests that the older you get, the happier you become. Despite a decline in physical and cognitive abilities, your <a href="https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/mental/improvement-in-mental-health-with-aging/" title="happiness curve">mental state improves</a>. The “<a href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w26641" title="happiness curve">Happiness curve</a>” best illustrates this phenomenon.</p>
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    <img title="happiness curve" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/ball-1845546_640_1.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331705&amp;Signature=C9iCsxjNLtTcgkbtfLPK%2F1qXxqREqYNr8dYQlpH14AuaoPm2qDlU1YgLKicOn0yZ209b3r%2BVYrBNj07jBXSh39%2FXdbvgdKxQ6M0u6jbedbF70Jyll5IwHlZBs27gAbGUdZeDhBGW3huNPabQLTh8e8TX6rYWTi1tWQUuxU5HUN%2BY%2FjDtZTW7OuvJbcjN6kLx62Vhe16jzh5olxOJJHfy0rPmdnFlmk5XmczmDTjUTxmw0IazlU3m50i0g2E0jj7lxV906iKbcBjm1Sjjt5CuwaD%2Bw3lL11AyfosiyBnsZFqz0rfcEbj7lSee%2B8khEn6DvSXc6hKIYu6dAi7ClLBLSQ%3D%3D" width="640" height="426" alt="Ball being happy" />  </div>

  
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<p><strong>What is the Happiness Curve?</strong></p>
<p>Though seemingly paradoxical, the happiness curve is tied to the natural pressures of young adulthood, which contribute to an atmosphere of stress and uncertainty. Questions of how to:</p>
<p>• Find the right romantic partner </p>
<p>• Choose an enjoyable yet lucrative career </p>
<p>• Transition to financial stability </p>
<p>constantly plague the minds of young adults. </p>
<p>Since <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3792649/" title="happiness curve">the “self” is still forming in this stage of life</a>, searching for a core identity feels emotionally consuming. Conversely, older adults have typically <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3018853/" title="happiness curve">cemented their identity</a>, leading to more emotional stability and achieving the happiness curve. </p>
<p>For this reason, the happiness curve is a kind of “<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/12/the-real-roots-of-midlife-crisis/382235/" title="happiness curve">U-curve</a>” (or, as some have whimsically modeled it, a <a href="http://thecontextofthings.com/2015/01/05/happiness-u-curve/" title="happiness curve">smiley face</a>) – with physical and cognitive health having a surprisingly inverse relationship with happiness.</p>
<p>Remarkably, people entering their 20s and 30s reported having the <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100448?rfr_dat=cr_pub%3Dpubmed&amp;url_ver=Z39.88-2003&amp;rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&amp;journalCode=psych" title="happiness curve">highest stress, depression, and anxiety among all age groups</a>. Simultaneously, they also have the lowest levels of contentment and well-being. In contrast, people in their 50s and 60s have much <a href="https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/mental/improvement-in-mental-health-with-aging/" title="happiness curve">higher life satisfaction, emotional stability, and positivity than their younger counterparts</a>.</p>
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    <img title="happiness curve" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/child-1440526_640.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331705&amp;Signature=OKI0nHdb%2Bx4CE7JRROZBmeBAn%2B8U3cyFF5xWy%2FJ51FBEK5T7q2jwO6jwtlNHTxS1UgZHLIUt6g%2BKXqaNjSejRbS%2Bx60s49a9C5EEq3preoljLaxTRlTJ83D%2F7Qu7WnjaaCy82FQagJRJX2usUYODz5ntSiOd8nOQ5L1tpJYkXl6Gvyl9h8ngEx%2F6A6wcsMYk7sJgQGgp6quGT30GubQrAubejq%2BOY8nF12AmGbu0hUMDnzSNKsmmhdkcGA1YGjOSY6fHvkryPzHRMrRrDyDOJUiz6UAJITx5uvvovSVN7rL%2BUN1D9Fwa33naa6JcYJCIn8FPqwMRHR1Vdn%2B6ezkxag%3D%3D" width="640" height="426" alt="Children are an exception, they are almost always happy" />  </div>

  
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<p><strong>The Happiness Curve</strong></p>
<p>The happiness curve is attributed to the ability of older people to <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2001-00438-011?doi=1" title="happiness curve">focus on the positive aspects of situations</a>. As you grow older, you’re affected by adverse conditions less than younger people and are more likely to focus on your successes.  For example, an evening spent reading stories to grandchildren significantly outweighs the annoyance of achy knees or weak glasses. </p>
<p>These findings support the principles of <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1999-10334-001" title="happiness curve">socio-emotional selectivity theory (SST)</a>, which refers to the relationship between increased happiness and a limited timeline. Happiness, according to SST, is an individual’s confidence in their future. Since an <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00339/full" title="happiness curve">unpredictable future</a> confronts younger people, they focus their energy on combating whatever challenges lie ahead, such as going to college, completing a summer internship, or getting into perfect shape.</p>
<p>This ambiguity makes young adults less embedded in the “now’, delaying internal emotional satisfaction. Therefore, the happiness curve is at its lowest at this point in life. </p>
<p>Conversely, when facing a shorter period, a person will focus on the present, prioritizing emotional satisfaction over preparation for the future. Happiness, in turn, becomes the biggest priority for the aging adult, as do values such as love, family connection, and self-reflection. The happiness curve is complete. </p>
<p><b>Perspective: Essential to the Happiness Curve</b></p>
<p>As you grow older, you acquire wisdom by learning lessons from your past. Knowledge increases the sense of self and contributes to the notion of “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1064748112600682" title="happiness curve">successful aging</a>.” </p>
<p>Wisdom allows you to have a meaningful relationship with your past, using memories as a lens to view your identity. This accumulation of memories gives you perspective, a key ingredient in the happiness curve. </p>
<p>As you remember countless embarrassing or negative moments (like when you spilled yogurt on a breakfast date), you also remember that none of it mattered. Though your younger self felt humiliated, those moments are now funny. </p>
<p>Age shows us that even losses that seem incredibly consequential at the moment, like breakups, are ultimately minor in the grand scheme of life. Older people focus on happiness instead of heartbreak when reflecting on a past love. Filtered by <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/what-causes-nostalgia-goggles/" title="happiness curve">nostalgia goggles</a> (looking at past events positively), the past becomes a harbor of positive recollections.</p>
<p><strong>Record Memories on My Stories Matter </strong></p>
<p>Thanks to the happiness curve, it only goes up from here! In the <a href="https://seniorplanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Bowie-aging-quote-1.jpg" title="happiness curve">words</a> of David Bowie, “Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.” So don’t let the fear of aging worry you. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Happiness curve">My Stories Matter</a> is a great platform to start <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/4-reasons-to-record-your-life/" title="happiness curve">recording the lessons</a> you’ve learned along the way. You can: </p>
<p>• Collaborate with friends and family </p>
<p>• Organize your stories and memories with our timeline feature</p>
<p>• Answer prompts that ask you specific questions to get started </p>
<p>Your information is kept secure and private, unlike other social media apps. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="happiness curve">Sign up</a> today for free and allow your happiness curve to rise.</p>
