“The solution to every problem is only an idea away.” — Portal to Genius

But what happens if you get the idea… and then forget what it was?

That happened to me once while driving home. I had this powerful “aha” moment—one of those lightbulb ideas that made me go, “Ooooh, I need to write that one down…” But by the time I could pull over and grab a pencil, it was gone. Slipped right through my mental fingers like a slippery fish before I could spear it to the page.

That really bothered me. Every so often, I get these flashes of inspiration—an idea, a word, a phrase—that helps me see something differently or gives me clarity around a challenge I’ve been trying to work through. Most often, it’s tied to a personal flaw I’m hoping to improve.

So now I had a new flaw to worry about: not being able to remember the insights that could change my life… if only I could hold onto them long enough to use them!

But here’s the good news—and how the story turns around.

As I sat there trying to recall whatever profound thought had just slipped away, another thought came in and calmed me:

If it’s important for the moment, God will bring it to mind.

Everything I’ve ever seen, heard, read, or thought is already stored perfectly in my mind. Bob Proctor said it well:

"You have a perfect memory; you just may struggle with recall."

That hit me. My job isn’t to obsess over remembering everything. My job is to stay open, receptive, and trusting. If an idea is meant to bless me—or someone else—God will bring it back to me, right when I need it most. And of course, I do my best to jot things down when I can, but when I can’t, I choose to let go and trust.

The truth is:
I don’t have to remember everything I’ve learned, 100% of the time.

I have what I need, right now, to do and be who I’m meant to be—right now.

I make the best decisions I can with the understanding I have in the moment. That’s all that can be expected of any of us. We don’t live in yesterday. We don’t live in tomorrow. All we have is now.

So let’s release the pressure of trying to be more than human. Let’s stop fretting over whether we’re doing enough or remembering enough. Let’s be at peace with the present—and trust God to handle the rest.

That’s the commitment I’m making.

Originally published March 18, 2007

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