Defining Moments

Defining Moments 

Among the wealth of experience are the moments which we remember for life.

They maybe things that happen by chance,or do we create them? 

One of the moments that we tend to recal,l according to psychologists is called the "peak end principle". It states we always remember the moments that define our experience. 

We do not or, perhaps,cannot remember the whole of our experience of an incident from start to finish,whether in our conscious state or in our sleep,or our dreamy state, but we just remember certain moments. Some things stick out even among these moments,while we cut out the rest.

Why do we only remember some moments rather than others?

We can only remember the highlights,the things which spark positive emotions,like something we enjoy,something delightful, and things that engage us. Moments which don't appeal to us are easily forgotten or are erased out of our memory. 

We generally tend to uncouple bad,scary or threatening episodes of our life's experience from moments that really uplifts our psyche. 

How do we process memory?

A new research produced by Elizabeth Kensinger,Professor of Psychology at Boston College, Mass, USA, has shown that "emotional memories are more resistant to the decaying thought process,that wear away at all memories with time". 

She states: "it really does matter whether (an event) is positive or negative,in that most of the time,if not all of the time,negative events tend to be remembered in a more accurate fashion than positive events."

She further states:"the details you remember about a negative event are more likely to be accurate".

This  challenges our earlier acceptance that positive events are the moments that make a difference. But here the question is which moments are prone to distortion over time?

Defining moments and forensic science

Forensic experts have over periods of time used this aspect of events,and access to memory, to best advantage in resolving criminal trials in Court proccedings.. They have maintained that memory is dependent by the way our brains are wired?

Do we really think of the way "the murder was committed and the details how it was commited,rather than the memory of the atmosphere surrounding the scene of murder?ould this be an explanation why eminent Criminal Barristers go hammer and tongs on the memory of the details of the murder weapon,rather than other peripheral events at the scene of the incident? The emphasis in cross examination of an accused,there is less prominence given  of the detail of what the accused was wearing and particulars of the scene of crime,if forensic evidence deems otherwise.

The mysteries of our mind  

Our minds are generally focussed on the non fear inducing elements and thus pleasurable events are at the forefront of remembrance.

Music ticlkles strong memories we are told. Can we thus assume that if at a murder scene,soothing music was heard, there could be less distortion of our memory?

The mysteries of our mind often boggle us. Everybody has personal memories,memories from life which may be of little value to some,but would seem priceless to others?

What then can we judge about our connections to moments of pride in our lives. We generally tend to recount these defining moments. But we are told cultural heritage may distort or cloud over these memories. 

Defining moments come to the forefront of our memory only when we concentrate on the pleasurable insights.We need to focus attention to these moments. 

William James,the philospher wrote in the last century that "some events are so emotional as to leave a scar upon the cerebral tissues". Although memory is not always perfect, sometimes a memory  can acccurately preserve a moment in time. Mental time travel does enhance recapitulation,provided there is focussed attention.

A revivalist view

In his recent book: "Defining Moments" Pastor Bill Johnson looked at the remarkable ways in which God has used ordinary people to change history. But he says it is more than just history; it unveils the future. Prophetic in nature his book reveals what God wants to do in each of our lives to fulfil his purposes today,tomorrow and in the years to come. The supernatural is always on the move. 

Signs of the mysteries of the mind are still happening,as ordinary people are being exposed to life changing work around the world.Instead of keeping yourself away and safe from all those things that don't seem right in this world,we may be ableto influence our own state of mind and help raise awareness of those around us as we take a step forward in the mysteries of our mind.

Just as tides ebb and flow,good times and bad,come and go.Sometimes we feast on delights,and sometimes we hunger for things we cannot have.Yet there are opportunities waiting to be discover.

These are the defining moments we need to explore.

Victor Cherubim