I am guilty of leaving too many apps open on my phone and multiple files and windows open on my laptop.
It results in slow performance, application freezes and crashes as the system strains to cope.
The Zeigarnik Effect is a psychological term referring to the brain’s tendency to fixate on incomplete tasks.
Unfinished or interrupted business holds a privileged place in our memory.
When a project is complete the brain no longer gives it priority, archiving it from active to inactive status.
Too many incomplete tasks and our system goes into overload.
One of the functions of our dreams is processing the unfinished. It’s the brain’s strategy for alerting us that unprocessed events and projects need to be finalised.
The Zeigarnik Effect also explains the power of unprocessed negative events to undermine intimate relationships.
Such events become like a stone rolling around in our shoe.
It’s not an issue when tucked in the side of our shoe but it eventually lodges in a tender part of our soul.
Hurtful events are preferentially remembered and mentally replayed until they undermine trust and put partners on a downward cascade of suspicion and hostility.
How do we clear our memory bank and give our system more coping capacity?
Work out which projects can be completed and which you need let go by either delegation or acceptance this is a project that deserves archiving.
When it comes to hurtful incidents in relationships, processing events requires honest, calm conversations where negative effects are discussed without returning to the heat of conflict. This is a skill we all need to master if we are to enjoy strong connections.
How’s your personal system functioning? Are there open files that require completion?
Today take a step toward closure.
