Page 41 - How to Develop A SUPER-POWER MEMORY

Link Method of Memory 45
own list of objects and memorizing them in the way that
you have just learned.
I realize, of course, that we have all been brought up to
think logically, and here I am, telling you to make illogical
or ridiculous pictures. I know that with some of you, this
may be a bit of a problem, at first. You may have a little
difficulty in making those ridiculous pictures. However,
after doing it for just a little while, the first picture that
comes to mind will be a ridiculous or illogical one. Until
that happens, here are four simple rules to help you.
1. Picture your items out of proportion. In other words,
too large. In my sample associations for the above items, I
used the word, "gigantic" quite often. This was to make
you get the items out of proportion.
2. Picture your items in action whenever possible. Unfor-
tunately, it is the violent and embarrassing things that we
all remember; much more so than the pleasant things. If
you've ever been acutely embarrassed, or been in an acci-
dent, no matter how many years ago, you don't need a
trained memory to remember it vividly. You still squirm
a bit whenever you think of that embarrassing incident that
happened years ago, and you probably can still describe in
detail the facts of your accident. So get violent action into
your association whenever you can.
3. Exaggerate the amount of items. In my sample asso-
ciation between telephone and cigarette, I told you that you
might see millions of cigarettes flying out of the mouth-
piece, and hitting you in the face. If you saw the cigarettes
lit and burning your face, you'd have both action and
exaggeration in your picture.
4. Substitute your items. This is the one that I, per-
sonally, use most often. It is simply picturing one item
instead of another, i.e. Smoking a nail instead of a cigarette.