Hey Reader,

In Time and Psychological Explanation, Brent Slife writes:

We like to think that what we remember actually happened.

And that things actually happened exactly as we remember them.

But even in the present moment, we can't perceive everything.

Our brains filter. Emphasize. Ignore. Evaluate.

Suppose someone tells you, "I really liked your blog post but I thought it could have been shorter."

What do you say in two weeks if I ask you what they told you about your blog post?

You'll probably say that they thought your blog post was too long.

You'll probably forget that they really liked it.

The same thing happens when it comes to memories.

Your mood impacts what you remember.

When you're angry at your partner, you won't remember all the fun times you've had together.

You won't remember when they did something kind and thoughtful for you.

You won't remember what you really respect about them.

Instead, you'll remember all the things they do that annoy you.

The times they didn't listen to you.

When they didn't think of you as much as you thought of them.

Furthermore, your mood impacts how you remember things.

When you're feeling good, positive moments in your memories get exaggerated.

And when you're not feeling good, negative moments also get exaggerated.

So if you want to counter-balance this cognitive bias, ask yourself...

How am I feeling right now? Why am I feeling this way?

How is this impacting the way I'm experiencing things?

What am I forgetting that would provide me with a fuller, more well-rounded, accurate perspective on things?