Life Writing and Memory

Memory is essential in life-writing. But how can we remember life-events that date

back to our childhood when we write? I have discovered three methods that yield

results. One is introspection in silence. Being at home, surrounded with familiar

objects, photos, and a homely atmosphere helps in retrieving memories that

are buried in our minds, The second method related to the first is meditation

and breathing exercises that help us relax and bond with our memories in a

positive way even if these memories are difficult to deal with and assimilate.

The applications Respirelax and Cardiac Cadence have been proven to have

a good effect on relaxation. The third method involves free association as in

psychoanalysis but it is applied to writing. This method frees inhibitions by writing

about what comes to mind and respecting our mind's capacity of association

which is a method of releasing our unconscious memories through our

preconscious faculty and helps us to create new associations which

we can, then, elaborate into a memoir.