A Simple Memory Tip You Can Use Right Now

Set Your Intention

• Memory is not something you have, it’s something you do.
• Part of that is asking yourself, what is your intention for learning and memory?
• My mentor, Dr. Stephen Covey has a quote: “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”
• ~Their intention and focus is on responding.
• ~In his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, one of his habits is seek first to understand, then to be understood.
• People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
• ~People can feel your intention, they pick up on it.
• That’s why your intention matters.
• So how are we defining intention?
• In Latin, intentus is your aim, your purpose.
• Intention can be defined as the thing you intended, your goal, your plan.
• The power of intention is really the power of a focused and dedicated mind.
• Every action you take begins with an intention.
• Wayne Dyer says: “Your intentions create your reality.”
• That’s a powerful thought. What you intend, creates what is.
• Oprah also talks a lot about the power of intention.
• She says: “Intention is one with cause and effect. Intention determines outcome. And if you are stuck and not moving forward, you have to check the thought and action that created the circumstance.”
• There is a lot of power in intention.

Living With Intention

• What you focus your mental energy on, you’re able to give more of your brain power towards.
• This isn’t magic—it’s using the innate tools we have by unlocking the power of the mind.
• Intention can help place you in a position where you are actively planning and preparing, and helping ensure you can perform at optimal levels.
• Intention isn’t something you do once and forget about.
• It’s a consistent, continual use of your mind in a focused manner.
• When you cultivate a mindfulness towards an intentional state, you can get what you want in life easier.
• Most people don’t remember things, like people’s names, because they never set the intention to recall that name.
• Ask yourself: Do you really have a set intention to remember what you’re learning or doing in any given moment?
• Intention is different from desire.
• You can want something and have an interest in something, without having an intention towards it.
• Intention is a commitment that leads to a decision.
• If you set an intention to remember someone’s name, you’ve decided to remember their name.
• It’s deliberate and conscious.
• When you claim your intention, you decide to turn desire into action.
• This process is essentially three steps.

Get In Your Head

• You have to decide what you want.
• This action is in your head.
• To set your intention, you have to know what your goal is.
• Think about your aim, your goal, your dream.
• Then set your intention.
• If you don’t know what your goal is, you’re never going to be able to utilize the power of intention.
• Clarity gives you direction, it gives you power.
• Remember the phrase: I commit myself to this.
• Most people forget people’s names, or where they parked, or where their keys are because there’s no commitment, no active thought towards that action.
• Intention is being mindful, aware, and focused.

Now, Go Into Your Heart

• This is your why.
• It’s important that you get crystal clear on your why.
• It isn’t just about knowing what you want, but understanding why you want it.
• Ask yourself: What is this goal going to give you?
• Reasons reap results, but reasons also reap rewards.
• Most people know what to do, but they stay in their head.
• Without the heart—the why—you can’t take what you want out of your head and put it into your hands.
• Emotions are the energy of motion.
• Set your intentions and make sure you feel it in your heart in terms of why you must move forward.

Finally, Put Your Intentions In Your Hands

• This is where you work for your goal.
• Once you know what you want, and why you want it, you have a good foundation.
• A good foundation is attractive, but you can’t move forward without action.
• This is all about the methods.
• What are you going to do to reach your goals? What is your plan?
• It’s important to set your intentions but you have to turn them into actions.
• Work towards your goal every day.

Head, Heart, Hands

• Intention is a guiding principle of how you want to be, learn, live, and show up in the world.
• In other words, you see your intention, you feel it, and then you work daily for it.
• There are few pursuits more important than living an intentional life.
• Deepak Chopra, who is coming back for an upcoming podcast, talks about intentions.
• He says, “Intentions compressed into words enfold magical power.”
• You, your memories, your growth, are the greatest project you’re ever going to work on.
• Living with intention is the goal.
• To live less out of habit, and more out of intent.
• In the words of Jim Carrey: “Our intention is everything. Nothing happens on this planet without it. Not one single thing has ever been accomplished without intention.”
• Be sure to check out the unedited, extended episode on YouTube, here.

Share With Us

• Take a screenshot of this episode, tag me on social media (@JimKwik), and share one way you’re going to start living with intention.
• My team put together more resources to help with your intentional journey. Visit www.jimkwik.com/more.
• If your intention is to read faster and remember what you read, there’s a one-hour masterclass introduction on speed reading.
• If your intention is improving your memory, we put together three training videos on memory training.
• And there’s a lot more.