Self Analysis 1951 List 5

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List 5

Assists to Remembering

“Remember” is derived, of course, directly from action in the physical universe. How would a deaf mute teach a child to remember? It would be necessary for him to keep forcing objects or actions on the child when the child left them alone or omitted them. Although parents are not deaf mutes, children do not understand languages at very early ages, and as a consequence learn to “remember” by having their attention first called toward actions and objects, spaces and time. It violates the self-determinism of the individual, and therefore his ability to handle himself, to have things forced upon him without his agreement. This could be said to account, in part, for some of the “poor memories” about which people brag or complain.

Because one learns language at the level of the physical universe and action within it, he could be said to do with his thoughts what he has been compelled to do with the matter, energy, space and time in his environment. Thus, if these have been forced upon him and he did not want them, after a while he will begin to reject the thoughts concerning these objects, but if these objects, spaces, times and actions are forced upon him consistently enough he will at length go into an apathy about them. He will not want them very much but he thinks he has to accept them. Later on, in school, his whole livelihood seems to depend on whether or not he can remember the “knowledge” which is forced upon him.

The physical universe level of remembering then, is retaining matter, energy, space and time. To improve the memory, it is only necessary to rehabilitate the individual’ s choice of acceptance of the material universe.

In answering these questions, particular attention should be paid to the happier incidents. Inevitably many unhappy incidents will flick through, but where selection is possible happy or analytical incidents should be stressed. This list does not pertain to asking you to remember times when you remembered. It pertains to acquiring things which you wanted to acquire.

Sight, Smell, Touch, Color, Tone, External Motion, Emotion, Loudness. Body Position, Sound, Weight. Personal Motion

Can you remember a time when:

1. You acquired something you wanted.
2. You threw away something you didn’t want.
3. You abandoned something you knew you were supposed to have.
4. You did something else with the time which was otherwise appointed for you.
5. You went into a space you were not supposed to occupy.
6. You left the place you were supposed to be.
7. You were happy to have acquired something.
8. You happily defied directions you had been given.
9. You were sent to one place and chose to go to another.
10. You chose your own clothing.
11. You wore something in spite of what people would think.
12. You got rid of something which bored you.
13. You were glad to have choice over one of two objects.
14. You didn’t drink any more than you wanted to.
15. You successfully refused to eat.
16. You did what you pleased with yourself.
17. You did what you pleased with a smaller person.
18. You were right not to have accepted something.
19. You gave away a present you had received.
20. You destroyed an object somebody forced upon you.
21. You had something you wanted and maintained it well.
22. You maliciously scuffed your shoes.
23. You didn’t read the book you had been given.
24. You refused to be owned.
25. You changed somebody’s orders.
26. You slept where you pleased.
27. You refused to bathe.
28. You spoiled some clothing and were cheerful about it.
29. You got what you wanted.
30. You got back something you had lost.
31. You got the person you wanted.
32. You refused a partner.
33. You threw the blanket off the bed.
34. You had your own way.
35. You found you had been right in refusing it.

Sight, Smell, Touch, Color, Tone, External Motion, Emotion, Loudness. Body Position, Sound, Weight. Personal Motion