“When a certain event happens (when we have an experience), we respond by doing certain things inside, in our mind, and it's these internal cognitive processes that actually create our emotional responses.”
- Bill Harris
Issue #501 – Monday, November 10, 2025
Have you ever wondered why certain memories stay crystal clear in your mind while others disappear almost instantly?
You might vividly remember your wedding day, your child’s first words, or that one phone call that changed everything…
…but can’t easily recall what you had for lunch last Wednesday.
That’s not a coincidence. It’s how your brain works.
And today I’m sharing a special essay from Mind Power Managing Editor Ryan Standifird that dives into how our memory works.
Ryan explores the fascinating science behind why some moments become unforgettable and how emotion plays a powerful role in shaping your memories.
Ryan also shares how you can intentionally use this knowledge to create more meaning, awareness, and joy in your everyday life.
It’s a beautiful reminder that every ordinary moment has the potential to become extraordinary… if you’re fully present for it.
You’re going to love this!
Cheers,
MaryEllen Tribby
Centerpointe CEO
P.S.
Did you know that trauma responses can be passed down through epigenetic markers in our DNA?
Scroll down to the Check it Out section below to learn more!
Why Some Moments Stay With You Forever
(How Emotion Makes All the Difference)
By Ryan Standifird
Have you ever stopped to think about why you remember certain moments of your life so vividly… while others fade away like mist?
Maybe you can recall exactly where you were when you got that exciting job offer…
Or when your child took their first steps…
Or even when you got that unexpected phone call that changed everything.
But ask yourself what you had for lunch three days ago, or what you wore last Tuesday…
And chances are, you’ll come up blank.
Why is that?
Why do some moments leave deep, lasting imprints in our minds while others vanish almost instantly?
Well, according to new research, the key ingredient that determines what memories your brain holds onto, and which ones it lets go, all has to do with one thing:
Your emotions.
Your Brain’s Emotional Filing System
Think of your memory like a vast library with a very selective librarian. Every second, your brain takes in an enormous amount of information: sights, sounds, smells, sensations, thoughts.
But only a tiny fraction ever makes it onto the “shelves” of long-term memory.
The rest gets tossed into the mental recycling bin.
So how does your brain decide what’s worth keeping?
Researchers from Boston University recently discovered that emotion acts as a kind of “highlight marker” for your brain.
When something emotionally charged happens that makes you feel awe, joy, fear, excitement, or even sadness, your brain flags it as important.
And here’s the surprising part: those emotional moments don’t just help you remember the big event itself.
They can also reach back in time and make you remember the ordinary moments that led up to the emotional event and the small things that happened just after it.
For example, let’s say you’re on a hike in Yellowstone National Park and suddenly you spot a majestic herd of wild bison crossing the trail. You’ll probably remember that breathtaking moment forever.
But according to this study, you’re also likely to remember the little things that happened around it like the shape of the rock you climbed over, the smell of the pine trees, maybe even the song that was stuck in your head at the beginning of the hike.
That’s because your brain is linking those otherwise forgettable details to the emotional “anchor” of the bison encounter.
How Emotion Extends the Life of a Memory
In the BU study, researchers showed hundreds of participants a series of ordinary images, followed by more emotionally engaging ones. The next day, participants were asked to recall what they’d seen.
Here’s what they found:
Emotional events boosted memory both forward and backward in time.People remembered not just the emotional image itself, but also the boring ones that came right before and after.
Similarity strengthened the link.If the ordinary images shared something in common with the emotional one like color, theme, or context, the effect was even stronger.
Emotion prioritized the fragile.Interestingly, if a memory was already strong (for example, if it was emotional to begin with), the effect weakened. The brain seemed to use emotional energy to “rescue” weaker, fading memories rather than reinforce already-strong ones.
This means that the brain puts more energy into making sure that the context of the emotional event is preserved, even if the taste of the breakfast in the morning before the event doesn’t have a whole lot of significance on its own.
The Science of Meaningful Moments
This finding helps explain why we can recall where we were during major world events, when we heard shocking news, or when something profound happened that changed our lives forever.
For example, I clearly remember my parents getting a phone call on September 11, 2001 and turning on the television just in time for us to watch the second plane hit the World Trade Center. I couldn’t tell you what I had for lunch last week… but I remember that I was eating a bowl of coco puffs that solemn morning 25 years ago.
That’s the power of emotional anchors.
So now let’s look at what happens when we can mindfully use our emotional anchors as a way to create more meaningful and memorable experiences in our everyday lives.
Because emotion doesn’t just happen to us… it can also be cultivated.
Think about your average day. How many moments do you pass through on autopilot? Drinking your morning coffee. Driving to work. Making dinner. Scrolling your phone before bed.
Now imagine you added just a touch of emotion, a spark of gratitude, curiosity, or joy to some of those moments.
What if, instead of just drinking your coffee, you took a deep breath and savored its warmth?
What if, instead of mindlessly scrolling, you paused to reflect on something beautiful that happened that day?
What if, instead of rushing through your routine, you practiced being fully present?
By infusing ordinary moments with emotion and awareness, you’re signaling to your brain: This matters. Remember this.
Emotional Anchoring Tips
Here are a few practical ways to create your own emotional anchors that can help you preserve the experiences you don’t want to forget:
Pause and feel.
When something happens that you want to remember, take a moment to feel your emotions fully. That engagement strengthens neural pathways associated with memory.
Pair emotion with intention.
If you want to remember something (like new information, a name, or a goal), attach it to an emotional context. For example, imagine how achieving that goal will feel. The stronger the feeling, the better the memory.
Take a sensory snapshot.
Emotions are often triggered through our senses - sights, smells, sounds, noises, even taste. Notice your senses when you want to remember the moment.
Meditate daily.
Daily meditation - especially when you use tools like Holosync - improves your awareness. And the more aware you are, the more likely you will be to savor the moment and intentionally try to remember it.
Take time for reflection.
Before bed, think back on your day and identify one or two moments that stood out. What made them meaningful? Over time, this strengthens your ability to recognize and create emotional anchors.
The Bigger Picture
This research is a powerful reminder that how we live each moment determines what we carry with us.
Every day, we have countless opportunities to create memories that last. Not just through grand experiences, but through small, mindful moments infused with emotion and presence.
When you truly feel joy, wonder, love, or gratitude, you’re not just enriching that single moment. You’re etching it into the story of your life.
So today, don’t wait for something “big” to happen.
Find meaning in the little things.
Feel deeply.
Be fully there.
Because those are the moments your brain and your heart will never forget.
Check It Out!
Echoes of the Ancestors
Your ancestors passed down more than your eye color or your last name. They also passed down patterns — some empowering, others painful.
This is called epigenetics, and it’s one reason patterns like fear, shame or even scarcity can show up in your life without an obvious cause.
Echoes of the Ancestors was designed to help you:
Heal the emotional and energetic patterns inherited from your lineage
Reclaim the wisdom, resilience, and strength of those who came before
Create new patterns that bless your children, grandchildren, and beyond
Feel a deep sense of belonging and connection to your place in the human story
Through grounding ancestral rhythms, harmonic overtone frequencies, and Holosync’s brain-enhancing precision audio, this suite takes you deep into the energetic stream of your bloodline to release what no longer serves you and anchor the strengths you want to carry forward.
Wise Words
“Find meaning in the little things.”
- Ryan Standifird
This Really Happened
Holosync has changed my life.
I am so thankful I found it and gave it a try.
~Dani W.
MyHolosync App User
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