Reminder Pictures
A simple use of the visual memory is to make a picture of the thing which you wish to do, in the place where you wish to be reminded of doing it, called Reminder Pictures. This principle can be applied to errands and to very important ideas. Seeing the thing you wish to do will form the strongest possible impression. By seeing this picture in the place where you wish to be reminded of it, you have associated it in your mind in connection with the thing which is to be used to bring it again into your consciousness.
The latter half of the picture—the place in which you wish to be reminded of it—must be familiar, at the same time a place or object which is going to be physically visible at the time you want to be reminded of doing the errand. This principle can most easily be understood by the use of illustrations which are actual examples of how others have used the idea.
Forming a Health Habit
Believing in the value of a glass of water taken before meals one person made a picture of a large glass of water covering a greater part of the dining table, and when coming to the table he saw himself spill the glass of water. It is essential to have two objects in the picture—one, the thing you wish to be reminded of doing; and the other, a familiar scene which you are going to see at the time. In this case, when the person sees the table, which is half of the picture, it brings back into consciousness the large glass of water. This reminds him of drinking the water before sitting down to the meal.
A lady had been forgetting to get a certain rug which had been put away in a dark closet, and which she feared might be injured by the moths if it was not taken out and used. As is often the case in such circumstances, she thought of this rug many times, but always when it was inconvenient to get it. She made a picture of the door of the closet in which the rug was stored and also of herself passing this door; the door flew open and the rug jumped out into the hall at her feet. Later, when she was passing, seeing the closet door it reminded her of the rug and she stopped, opened the door, took out the rug and thus attended to the matter which she had been forgetting.
A business man had been forgetting to telephone an associate. He made a picture of the desk in his office, and when he rolled up the top of the desk the friend jumped out and scared him. This picture was made in the library of his home in the evening. Next morning when he saw the desk the rest of the picture came back to his mind and he took up the telephone and attended to the matter.