Memorization used to be the major factor in education, and still is a big part, due to the fact that remembering facts was critical to education when books were expensive and there were no computers handy to pull up random trivia. You had to remember it, you couldn’t just “google it.”
Today it’s so much easier to access information, often with just talking to Siri, so memorization is not as critical to the recall of miscellaneous facts. However, it’s becoming more and more important as a part of mental health, and I think, just as important to spiritual growth as well.
This year I’ve decided to try memorizing one ancient proverb a month to stretch my mind, and to fill it with spiritually renewing reminders. Here’s what I’ve found as I’ve been working on memorization the past few months.
1. It’s not as hard as I thought it would be: In my mind memorization was a really difficult task, but I’ve found that it comes easy with repetition. By just working on my proverb each morning I’m able to grasp little bits each day and before long I can recite it to myself, write it out, and recall the wisdom of the proverb when needed.
2. It’s all about repetition. Memorization isn’t about getting it all in one big chunk, it’s about starting small and adding as you go. Through repetition you will find it gets easier. Usually within a day or two I can memorize the general idea of a Proverb and within a week or two I can recite it word for word.
3. It is a confidence boost. If you’ve ever felt like you are losing memory or “just can’t memorize” then making memorization a discipline will help break some important and critical barriers. So much of life is about what’s happening in your mind, and how that affects your spirit. When you learn new things you get the feeling of accomplishment and the excitement of growth. There may be no easier way to achieve that than simple memorization. Try it and see if it doesn’t work for you.
Have you every memorized anything? What are your secrets to making memorization easier? Let me know if you have any clues or tips that might help me or others.
David Curry