How to forget things

I’m somewhat good at forgetting things. You're probably wondering from what issue of Reader's Digest it was ever a good thing to be forgetful. But I like to think of it as a self-defence mechanism. A self-defence mechanism from the pain of remembering. Of remembering bad things that happened and good things that don’t exist anymore.

If I tell myself to forget something, most times I will forget it. And it’s a good feeling when, one day, I struggle to remember the thing I successfully forgot. I might see something, touch something, smell something. It’s stimulating me, and I know it’s supposed to be reminding me of something, but I don’t know what. All I know is that I’ve blocked it out for a reason.

I realise while writing this that what I do sounds pretty freaky, if not psychotic. But for anyone curious enough to know how it’s done, read on.

“It goes like this: first you establish a screening image. I used white noise, both audio and video: a field of violent static, filling my entire field of view; like a TV with no antenna, with a loud hissing wash of sound… Now think about the thing you want to forget - but as soon as it comes up in your mind, flip to your screening image. Focus on [it]; make it really loud and thick; don't let the thought underneath surface… Most likely the thing you want to forget will float back up into your head. Immediately flip to your screening image again, and hold it until you get distracted. It gets easier each time… it starts to become a habit. As soon as the thought starts to form in your head, you will find yourself reflexively flipping to the [screening image]. You will still need to exert a little willpower to keep the thought underneath from floating up, but… the static [image] instead comes pretty quickly.”
- Forum respondent on Meta Filter


“The trick to forgetting then is not to not think about it, but to give our mind a new path to follow.”
- Forum respondent on Meta Filter

Maybe strong people run away from things too.

Love, Noeline
xox