Things We Remember Forgotten

Baltasar Gracian, a Spanish philosopher, once said, “the things we remember best are those better forgotten.” Gracian maintains that individuals have a tendency to remember catastrophic and negative events. The memory of these events creates a deep imprint on their psyche. He implies that these memories can hinder decisions, as they became a controlling factor. In other words, past trauma often dominates one’s thoughts and they can lead to destructive actions.

Additionally, things people remember best can be misconceived as positive memories; people try to emphasize or amplify positive memories. However, over time, they fade. For example, one’s recent birthday, a positive event, might not be as strongly recollected as the impact of a loved one’s death years ago. This occurs because positive memories are unable to overcome the damaging emotional effects of negative memories. Furthermore, negative memories or events become embedded in one’s mind, leaving scars in their path.

Unfortunately, negative memories, unlike their positive counterparts, do not need to be actively recalled.

They can be triggered when one is in an unfavorable mood. This happens, as the brain tends to allow mood to influence the recollection of memories. As an illustration, if one is severely traumatized, such as by witnessing the suicide of a loved one, it is possible for that memory to creep back into their mind where it is etched. In the future, it may become more probable for a person to choose the same path, suicide, under stress and in dramatic situations. Moreover, their memory can affect their mentality, hindering efficiency, and influencing those around them. By forgetting these traumatic situations, one can maintain a healthy mindset, and keep their loved ones and themselves from stresses associated with possible negative

outcomes.

Memories are easily made but difficult to forget. Once they are forgotten, however, stress levels can be significantly reduced, leaving one with peace of mind and serenity. One has the power to forget and move on, and doing so can give them a clear conscience, dismembering the link between negative events and memories. Gracian’s moral is to live with an open and clear mindset. He insinuates to forget the things that are "better forgotten", and allow positive memories their place. In this case, they remain a part of the brain where they will be available to be cherished, and utilized to emphasize the better aspects of relationships, society and life in general.