AM I LOSING MY MIND?
Do you ever catch yourself functioning on autopilot? Maybe you pull into your driveway at home and realize you don’t remember any of the drive there. Or perhaps you feel like your memory is getting worse, feeling like you forget easily. Where did you put your keys? Why did you leave it in the fridge? It might not be related to your memory as much as you think it is. Although, memory loss is a serious condition that shouldn’t be taken lightly, you being “out of it” might not be memory-related. In fact, you could be a very healthy individual with these struggles.
SO WHY AM I OUT OF IT?
The truth is, we can remember what we want to remember. We remember things that make an impression on us. We also have the ability to allow these impressions. So maybe you’re not allowing it to happen? When we’re present, focused on and aware of the moment we’re in, we allow ourselves to absorb it – making more memories. Being present means we’re engaging and interacting life. This is what it means to be alive. The opposite from autopilot.
CAPTURING A MOMENT
Ever experience seeing something amazing or having such an incredible time, you say to yourself (or maybe even out loud), “I’m going to remember this moment forever,” never wanting to forget it? We’re so penetrated by experience, it makes an impression, and we’ll most likely remember that moment for a long time. We focus on what’s happening as it’s happening. Living it. This is one way to be present and make more memories.
GETTING LOST IN A MOMENT
You could also let the moment carry you away. Whatever it is we’re doing, we’re engaged in the experience, but we allow ourselves to stay with it. It’s almost like we let the moment grab our hand and take us running through an experience. We pay attention to what’s happening in a way that binds us to it.
WHY DON’T WE LIVE EVERY MOMENT IN THE PRESENT?
There’s many explanations for this. It’s a very subjective reason. However, our modern lives bind us to the clock. We have schedules, deadlines, alarms, plans, routines, progress, etc. Rather than being in the moment, we’re thinking about what’s ahead and what’s happened, after it’s happened. We might also be so mentally exhausted from everything else going on, we mentally check out – living on autopilot, going through the motions, not making memories. As previously mentioned, memory loss is a serious condition that might also need medical attention.
If you or a loved one struggles with staying in the moment or with memory, please contact Crownview Medical Group to get in touch with a medical professional who can help you live your most optimum life.
