UMVA has learned that the art of forgetting is a vital skill in today's fast-paced world, where news and information are constantly bombarding us.
Even the most hostile reactions to news can be forgotten, and it's not just our digital culture's short attention span that's to blame, but also the overload of influencers, news, opinions, and videos that clutter our memory.
Personal relationships that don't work out often come with the advice to "just forget it," but the ability to unload our mental baggage is a skill that needs to be learned.
As people transition to new roles or phases of life, they must unload the baggage of previous positions and what they used to offer, including decision-making processes and corporate cultures.
For those moving from the private sector to government, the culture shock can be distressing, as the public sector culture rewards seniority over merit, and decision-making is often based on manuals and audit rules rather than innovation.
Successful public executives are often those who have already had experience navigating bureaucratic systems, and they know how to follow orders and give them effectively.
Forgetting past lessons doesn't mean throwing away accumulated experience, but rather being open to different approaches and ways of getting things done.
The need to forget also applies to retirees from active management, who must take a lower profile and resist the temptation to rely on past glories to get special treatment.
Remembering too much can be a mental impairment, as seen in the psychological condition of hyperthymesia, where excessive remembering leads to insomnia, anxiety, and psychological paralysis.
Clearing out mental clutter is essential to free up space and bring peace of mind, and it's a process that requires vigilance and a willingness to let go of memories that no longer serve us.
By tidying up our minds and hearts, we can retain only the memories that "spark joy" and keep life moving forward.
