David W. Zierk, PsyD

The past is sticky, sometimes too much.

Put yourself in a comfortable position in a room with no distractions. Close your eyes, take a few deep cleansing breaths, and permit your mind to journey where it needs to go. Trust your instincts; they are strong and reliable. With an open mind and feeling grounded in the present moment, mentally travel back in time as you read the following line.

How do you finish the phrase, “Remember when…”

Where did your mind take you? What memory showed up? If you drew a blank, go back to relaxing and try again. This time, allow your mind to wander back to the past. Don’t force anything. Count to ten, with a “Mississippi” in between each number. Let your recollection come forward organically. This is not a test. This is an exercise of freedom, stored experiences, and time travel.

When your mind is given the freedom to travel back in time, where does it go? What memory shows up? Again, don’t rush it. Return to the phrase, “Remember when…” until a memory surfaces. When it does, let the memory linger. Don’t push it away, don’t try to make sense of it, and observe what story from your past reemerged.

Bringing the Past into the Present

The memory that your mind shared with you is interesting. Don’t get caught up in asking “Why” this particular mental souvenir reappeared. Instead, embrace its presence and trust that the story needs to be retold. Your memory is something that happened that didn’t decay or vanish. It was stored for a reason. Often, it’s because of something unfinished, unexamined, or pleasingly interesting. Remember, not all memories are grippingly poignant. Sometimes, they show up just because.

When you’re ready to examine the memory that appeared, consider the importance of the following phrase:

Stay ahead of your past so you don’t leave your future behind.

This phrase suggests that when your past repeats without being dealt with, you’ll have a harder time stepping out of its shadow and into a brighter light. For this reason, letting the memory stay around opens your mind to deciphering and savoring its message. Don’t overthink this exercise. It’s meant to be intriguing and interesting, not specifically newsworthy.

If you want to, close your eyes again and repeat the process. When you’ve “remembered when…” a few times, consider sharing your experience with someone close to you. Your walk down memory lane may facilitate captivating dialogue. If nothing else, it’s hoped you’ve enjoyed the experience of being vulnerable and trusting your mind to take you back to a time worth revisiting.

Summing Up and Moving On

Remember, your mind only remembers what it can’t forget and can’t forget what it doesn’t want to remember. So, this is where your challenge begins. Ask yourself, “Who’s in control—you or your mind?”

Press the button below to learn more about how your mind works as described in Dr. Zierk’s book, Mind Rules: Who’s in Control, You or Your Mind?