Embrace Your Inner Homer Simpson to Thrive
It’s a common cliche that our memories begin to suffer at middle age. In reality, memory loss is not an inevitable part of aging — but it’s definitely more common in older people than younger folks.
When memory problems do occur, it’s likely caused by a natural decline in neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to change and adapt. But we now know that you can enhance your brain’s neuroplasticity at any age.
That said, many memory problems come from environmental factors like stress, hormonal changes, too little sleep, poor diet, and lack of exercise. Memory loss is not inevitable, but you have to make a concentrated effort to avoid it.
Are there times, though, that forgetting is beneficial? And I mean beyond your wardrobe choices in the 80s.
The answer is yes, and it’s tied to unlearning old information and replacing it with improved knowledge. So what does this have to do with Homer Simpson?
Let’s reflect on an episode of The Simpsons in which Homer confesses to Marge:
Remember when I took that home winemaking course and I forgot how to drive? Every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain.
That’s classic Homer. But even though it was intended as an exaggerated joke, at the core of it is a beneficial aspect of your brain that you should embrace, especially as you get older.
A research team from the University of Glasgow discovered through magnetic resonance imaging something important about memory. They found that learning a new approach causes your brain to erase previous information on the topic.
The Homer Simpson effect claims that, when you learn something new, your brain tries to find space and, to do so, ends up erasing your previous learning. This deletion process is only carried out when the information is rather similar. In other words, you unconsciously keep newer data and experiences and eliminate old ones.
This is the essence of unlearning. It involves integrating better information, strategies, and experiences to optimally adapt to a rapidly changing environment (you know, like all of life today).
Now, maybe emulating Mr. Simpson seems a bit silly. So how about dramatic examples of the power of unlearning from Andy Grove of Intel, Serena Williams, Disney, and even (up to a point) the Roman Empire?
For that, check out this Further Feature article:
Reset Your Thinking for Breakthrough Success
Keep going-
Πηγή: further.net
