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COPING

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Published: September 18, 1997

Choosing right file cabinet

Anyone who gathers a lot of material has to find some way to store it so it can be found when needed.

Large metal file cabinets used to serve such a function in most business offices. Most have been replaced by the huge memory capacities of modern computers. But whether you are going to file a piece of paper, a bunch of electronic impulses or a thought in your head, there are some important filing rules to follow.

Decide what you want to do with the information. If it has no value now nor likely in the future, dispose of it. In an office, it’s called File 13 or the wastepaper basket. In our heads, it’s called intentionally choosing to forget.

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Sometimes you’re not sure where something was filed. Trying to remember something can be one of life’s most frustrating activities. And the more frustrated you become, the less you remember. Focusing can often help. Find some means of taking a break from your concerns, a form of time out from yourself. Distraction eases tension and anxiety. It calms down the mind. It gets you away from the panicky feelings that often result when you can’t find or remember something.

Instead of focusing on remembering every detail, let your mind relax and be open to recognizing a little bit of information about the issue. But don’t try too hard. Memory is like a clam. The harder you try to open it, the tighter it holds itself closed. If you relax your mind, eventually some little clue or insight will come along. Don’t panic and grab for it. It will run away. Play around with that bit of information to help you reconstruct the information.

We never completely forget anything in life. We just lose it in our minds, and it can often take a lot of patience and time to track down where we left it.

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