Give That Piece of Wisdom a Memorable Name

A technique to recall advice when you need it

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We read countless books, devour articles on Medium, attend lectures, workshops, and events, hoping to gain insights that can affect inner change. Often, a specific piece of wisdom resonates so deeply that we resolve to apply it from then on. But when a situation arises where this wisdom would be helpful, we tend to forget it and slip back into old habits. The intention is there, but the wisdom hasn’t etched itself in our neural pathways.

Here’s a counterintuitive trick to make it stick: give your wisdom a memorable name.

Give Your Wisdom a Memorable Name

Naming your wisdom personalizes it and helps you remember it when you need it most.

Because it allows us to establish a personal connection, naming is a strategy that we frequently encounter in literature, films, and even daily life. Tom Hanks’ character in Cast Away is known for naming a volleyball Wilson, making it an essential friend when he is alone, shipwrecked on an island. The idea of naming He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named lends Voldemort a sense of importance and terror in Harry Potter.

Naming is a quick way to establish an anchor that makes it easier for us to remember important information. By…