Emotion Quote by Robert Dykstra
““...our memory is enhanced by the emotion attending the event. The more intense the feelings the more accessible to the memory is the event. Few of us live lives so emotionally charged that we can truly, accurately retrieve all of it. ...Often only our crisis events are preserved with strong emotions. For our own survival we can't forget them, and then we too easily forget the good stuff.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Power of Memory, Robert Dykstra, 2015
Emotions act as a filter, making intense experiences more memorable while routine moments fade, leading to a bias toward recalling crises over everyday joys.
In simple terms: Strong feelings make memories stick; calm moments fade.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and savor positive moments daily.
Themes
memory
emotion
bias
survival
wellbeing
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
advice
psychological
insightful
When to use this quote
- journaling
- mindfulness
- therapy
- celebrating small wins
Key Concepts
neuroscience
psychology
attention
encoding
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we intentionally encode positive experiences?
- What practices help balance memory of crises and joys?
A Different Perspective
Emotional intensity can distort accuracy of recollection.
![“Music [is] the third rail of life. You grabbed it to shock yourself out of the dull drag of hours. To feel something. To burn with all the emotions you didn't get to experience in the ordinary run of school, TV, and loading the dishwasher after dinner.” quote by Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/44b/joe-hill-1162_dinner_music-is-the-third-rail-of-life-you-grab_5424.jpg)