You might have figured out by now that the toughest part of developing a Power Memory using associations is being creative enough to come up with associations.

In the previous examples using the Body Parts and Face Parts Methods most of our associations used rhyming words. Using rhyming words will help you develop an association quickly and painlessly.

For instance, from the previous example in which we had to memorize the names of Greek Gods we found that the names were unusual and not easily associatable with common images. Instead of wracking our brain to force an association we found words that rhymed with the word we were trying to memorize and could be associated with the peg image.

For instance, instead of trying to find an image that could easily be associated with “Hera” we took the word “Farrah” which rhymed with it then associated an image of Farrah Fawcett with a muscular arm.

This technique can be used to memorize new vocabulary words that are difficult and unusual. Have you ever tried to memorize the parts of your brain? Words like “cerebral cortex” are difficult to pronounce let along memorize.

The cerebral cortex is the part of the cerebrum that controls the high brain functions such as sensory perception, learning and memory and individuality. So a good association might be to imagine a skier wearing a ski suit made out of multi-colored Gortex material (a breathable water repellant material). The word Gortex rhymes with cortex and the multi-colored material can remind you a person’s individuality.

Using rhymes can help you create associations fast and easy but don’t rely on them solely for all your associations. The best associations are two images that have a natural fit but are joined by an illogical or an extreme action.

The Importance of Having Solid Peg Images

Now that we have learned several different ways to remember and recall most any type of fact, figure or piece of information using powerful associations you can see the importance of having peg images.

You should strive to memorize at least 15-20 unique peg image lists that can be recalled instantly. You should be able to repeat the one-bun list or personal location list like it was second nature. Once you have these lists memorized cold, you are halfway to having a Power Memory.

Too Many Associations?

Some people ask, what if I memorize too many associations? Won’t they start getting mixed up in my mind? The answer is, probably not. If you review your associations for a small amount of time each day, you eventually won’t even need the images to remember them.

For instance, if you’ve associated the image of a yelling baby with the name of one of your friend’s children and you’ve been able to say his name several times to the point that you’ve now memorized it, there is no need to continue to remember the association. You can now forget the image or use it again in another association.

Be Selective

Try to be selective in what you choose to move to long-term memory.For temporary things that you need to recall only today or tomorrow, don’t attempt to put into long-term memory.

Important information that you know you will need to use in the future should be put into long-term memory. Things like names, important facts about people you meet, and information that may show up on tests should all be put into long-term memory.

The human brain has an infinite capacity to store information. This means that our mind will never fill up and will continually receive more and more information.

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