Avoid Pressure Induced Memory Loss
by Daniel Stewart
What you’re feeling is often called pressure induced memory-loss and it can be frustrating because you know you have the tools to help, but just can’t seem to remember what they are! There are 3 common reasons you may forget them: you didn’t get them to begin with (you never really learned them); you had them and lost them (this often occurs over a long period of time); you have them but just can’t seem to remember where you put them!
Of the three, the last one best describes what you’re experiencing. When the pressure of a situation goes up, your ability to remember mental training tips seem to go down. It’s very common so there’s no need to feel bad about it. Learning to overcome it is an important step in becoming “pressure proof.” Here are a few helpful tips that you might want to consider trying:
1) Pneumonic Devices – Wordplay such as acronyms, rhymes and alliteration are very helpful when it comes to creating pressure proof memory. Start by identifying the mental training tips you want to remember and then come up with:
(1) Acronyms: BLAST (breathe, laugh, and smile today) or STAR (stop thinking and ride).
(2) Rhyming Mottos: “Keep calm and ride on,” “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.”
(3) Alliteration: “I’m calm, cool, collected, capable, cheerful, confident, considerate, competent, creative, courageous, considerate and centered.”
2) Concentration Cues – Repetition is required to create pressure proof memory. You can do this by linking your favorite mental training tips to things you encounter throughout the day (e.g. repeat your acronym each time you open a door).
3) Pay it Forward – You’ll forget up to 80% of everything you hear each day – but you’ll remember up to 90% of everything you teach. Identify the mental training tips you want to remember and teach them to others.
Remember, If it’s worth doing… it’s worth remembering!
Published March 2013 Issue
Owner / Publisher | Canfield Certified Trainer
Karen Pickering is a lifelong horsewoman and the founder of The Northwest Horse Source, which began in 1995 as a small equine newsletter and grew into a respected industry publication. With more than 30 years of experience serving the horse community, Karen now focuses on helping equine businesses and organizations build visibility, credibility, and lasting relationships through online marketing, digital promotion, and educational platforms.
As a Canfield Certified Trainer, she blends proven success principles with real-world industry experience, supporting both businesses and individuals navigating change in today’s digital landscape. Karen remains deeply connected to the horse industry and is passionate about serving the community she has helped build for over three decades.
