Shape your life

Shape, May, 2007

ONE GOOD REASON TO THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS

Wonder why you scramble for your second cousin's name but are able to recall every painful moment of your last breakup? "Bad memories are often rehashed, so they can crowd out other data in your brain," says Thomas Crook, Ph.D., author of The Memory Advantage. The next time you have a cringe-worthy flashback, distract yourself with a pleasant memory. Soon the negative images will fade, improving your retention--and your mood.