Why did I come here again? Think, think! Oh, my memory is so bad sometimes. Okay, mental map . . . That’s right! I came here to turn the dishwasher on! What a relief. I think I might be in need of some B12—good for memory, right?
That’s a common monologue in my head. Maybe in yours, too. We’ve all experienced forgetting what we were planning to do on our way to do it or even the point we were about to make mid-sentence. When that happens, I always try my hardest to remember because, one, I feel it’s important to finish that thought or activity, and two, I have to prove to myself that, despite my irrational fear of experiencing a neurodegenerative decline in my 30s, I’m not really losing my memory.
As scary as brain health statistics around the world can look, for many of us who experience those momentary blanks, it’s not a matter of memory impairment or neurodegenerative decline. There’s a big chance that you might be under a lot of stress or haven’t been getting enough sleep—or you’re low in B12.
I’m quite interested in health, and brain health has been a topic I’ve been enjoying exploring lately. There’s nothing more empowering than learning how your body works and making informed decisions, even in our small daily choices.
One thing I have found quite interesting was learning about a group of people called super-agers. They are adults in the 65+ age group whose memory abilities are on par with those in their 20s. Scientists tried to find a common practice among this group, and what they all do differently from their peers who are not considered super-agers. They are constantly engaging in challenging activities. Some are competing in sports, others decided to learn to play the piano, learn a new language or even become technologically literate.
Specialists speculate that super-agers may share a willingness to endure discomfort in order to master a new skill in contrast with other individuals who might give up easily. Chief science officer for the Center for Law, Brain and Behaviour at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett, adds, “They’re doing hard stuff that doesn’t always feel really good at the moment, and so their brains have to learn to adapt and flexibly bring that regulation back in line.”
The lesson here: uncertainty and discomfort are not all bad for us.
We see this concept at work when it comes to physical activity. The way we build muscle is to create stress through resistance—tiny tears that the body repairs, making the muscle stronger.
We also see this in our spiritual lives. When we choose to trust God and follow His will—even when it’s not what we feel like doing—that process grows our faith. James reinforced this idea: “The testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:3,4).
We live in a time and culture that prioritises feeling good, happy and comfortable. And I’m not going to lie, I love my comfort zone. It’s the cosiest place, with its predictability and minimal stress. But our comfort zone is not the best place for improving our lives—spiritually, physically or cognitively.There is a lot to gain from persisting through challenges. I don’t mean we need to push ourselves to the verge of exhaustion or a mental breakdown—it’s important to identify and establish healthy limits. But as Dr Barrett put it, “Feeling bad doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. And it doesn’t mean you should stop working really hard. It means that you should get a drink of water, have a snack, get a hug and get back to it.”
