The 4 Phases to Create a Better Memory

Your brain works like an electrical circuit. Every time you learn something new, connections form between neurons in your brain. Just as in a house an electrical current travels through a circuit, in your body signals are transmitted from one group of neurons to another. The more the pathway is repeated the stronger the electrical signal and the stronger the connection between the neurons.

If you have a daily ritual, you have experienced the effects of a strong unconscious memory connection. Getting behind the wheel of your car, putting the key in the ignition, and backing out of your driveway then driving to work can all happen without you even thinking about it. This feeling of an unconscious memory is a result of brain circuitry that’s been strengthened through repetition. To get to the unconscious level you must go through all four phases of learning

The FOUR Phases of Learning

1) Unconscious incompetence-this would be the first time you every tried drive a stick shift and kept stalling the car.( you don't know that you don't know)

2) Conscious incompetence- this is when you realize that you need more practice before you get out on the road.(you know that you don't know)

3) Conscious competence- this is when you feel confident to drive on the road but you still need to pay attention and focus on the process of shifting.

(You have to think but you know)

4) Unconscious competence - this is when you don't have to think about driving and are on autopilot because you have created a memory connection at a subconscious level. (you do things automatically without having to think)

Anything that you learn must go through all 4 stages of learning. Any top athlete, musician, surgeon, martial artist, race car driver, etc all had to go through these stages.

This applies to anything in life. It has been shown that it can take ten thousand hours to become a master at anything. The main question is "what are you willing to master in your life and what stage of learning do you get stuck?”

If you would have given up after falling down several times in learning to walk you would still be crawling. It is so important to remember that anything worth learning takes time, repetition and effort.

More attempts mean more connections and more effective learning. Just as the strength of neural connections plays a role in learning, so does the quantity of connections. 

To create a better brain make it a point to go deeper into your learning process and consider daily education!