| Few years ago when I was in university we received | | | | war, which is the opposite of peace. |
| an assignment to prepare a speech about any topic of | | | | Trick 3: Learn to Manipulate. Position three is next |
| interest, it just had to be in Arabic language (we were | | | | corner after the bookshelves and I have a fireplace |
| foreigners learning Arabic). We studied a lot, many of | | | | there. Let's imagine a sly fox as a symbol of |
| my classmates had difficulties with memorizing huge | | | | manipulation sitting on the top of the fireplace giving me |
| amounts of information, so witnessing nervous | | | | a lesson on cunning. |
| breakdowns was something usual for us. What I am | | | | Trick 4: Break the Patterns. Fine, this goes to position |
| about to tell you was the topic of my choice. It was | | | | four, which is the wall just face to the entrance. I have |
| fun to look at faces of students as they were listening, | | | | a window there. My window is just a simple window, |
| some of them were completely astonished and | | | | but since I have great imagination, it is not difficult to |
| excited to try my trick, while others (including the | | | | imagine some oriental design (I live in Lebanon after all!) |
| teacher) had a puzzled look, they definitely thought I | | | | that is damaged by a shotgun bullet. |
| was nuts! | | | | Trick 5: Look Outwards Rather Than Inwards. Piece of |
| I am not an inventor of this trick, it was practiced long | | | | cake! Position five is the corner to the right from the |
| before I came into this world. The legend says that | | | | window. There is a chair there, I will throw a binocle on |
| ancient Greek poet called Simonides was invited to a | | | | it. |
| banquet to recite his soliloquy. Shortly after he left the | | | | Trick 6: Be Mysterious. Position six is for TV, so I can |
| place, the roof caved in, killing everyone inside. The | | | | mentally imagine the movie about someone dark |
| bodies were so disfigured that they could be no longer | | | | smoky and mysterious, Zorro for example. |
| identified. The authorities called Simonides in hope he | | | | Trick 7: Face Your Fears. Position seven is the corner |
| could remember at least some of the people who | | | | to the right when you enter. Let's say you are afraid |
| were there. To their surprise, he named each person | | | | of snakes and you have a lamp table there. So |
| who was there. Moreover, he remembered their | | | | imagine a cute toy snake right on the table. |
| location in the room. | | | | Trick 8. Be Flexible. This is for the wall where the door |
| This memorizing technique was named Roman Room | | | | is (just right where we entered) so I can imagine a |
| method probably because of Cicero, the Roman | | | | flexible wire around the door knob. |
| orator, who was famous for using it too. He was | | | | Trick 9. Rely on Yourself. Point nine is my floor. I see |
| known for being able to recite volumes of information | | | | myself in the role of a blacksmith. I am shaping the iron |
| by mentally placing ideas on the chairs instead of | | | | with anvil and hammer to earn my living right in the |
| people. | | | | middle of the room! |
| Building your own Roman room is easy, just needs a | | | | Trick 10. Avoid Miserable. Huge photo of my friend |
| little preparation and practice. You mentally number | | | | who loves nagging more than eating on the ceiling! |
| corners, walls, floor and ceiling of room that you know | | | | Repeat a couple of times. Congratulations, you are |
| very well in a certain order, which is not to be changed | | | | done! Now you will never forget your list and you |
| after that. Then you take first word, or idea that is on | | | | won't mess up the order, all because of silly sly fox |
| your list and somehow associate it with whatever it is | | | | teaching you cunning tricks! |
| in position 1, which is first left corner as you enter the | | | | Ironically, to memorize better and easier, you need to |
| room. The stranger is the association the better. | | | | memorize more. Once you've done the preparation, |
| Strange, funny, ridiculous associations are remembered | | | | that is assigning numbers to different locations, things |
| even better. | | | | become easy, you just need a little creativity. Your |
| I have a blog were I teach some tricks of success in | | | | room becomes your mental drawer you can use even |
| business and relationships. Here are the first ten: | | | | when you are not at home. Moreover, you will be |
| Trick 1: Keep Silent. Ok, how this can be associated | | | | easily able to recite the points starting from anywhere |
| with first left corner of my room? Let us say I have a | | | | in the middle or even in the back order, which is hard |
| reclining chair there. So I can imagine a poor guy tied to | | | | to achieve if you memorize just by repeating the |
| this chair with scotch tape on his mouth. | | | | information. As you get accustomed to the use of this |
| Trick 2: Work on Your Mind - Peace of Mind Is Not | | | | technique you can use more than one room for longer |
| Your Goal. In position two, which is the wall right after | | | | lists, as well as imaginary rooms that don't exist outside |
| that left corner I have bookshelves. This is easy - | | | | of your mind. |
| books associate with mind very well. We can add a | | | | So, do you think I am nuts too? |
| sword on the top of the bookshelves as a symbol of | | | | |