The Smart Side of Forgetting: Why Your Brain is smarter than you think—Especially When It Matters!

Sometimes,

knowing less

can feel like pure freedom.

The less you know,

the less you worry,

and the lighter your soul becomes.

Embrace the calm

of not knowing,

and revel in the freedom

that follows.

I had suddenly realized that the second semester in the course I am doing has practically lulled me into a state of hibernation during classes. With exams looming like an impending storm, my mind feels like a chaotic battlefield, campaign —filled with intricate op art alonwith op geometry  patterns clashing. The presentations given appearing oddly unfamiliar, as if I’m seeing them for the first time. Even then I did not realize and thought I will be able to prepare—until my brain decided to go on strike. That critical SCM slide? Vanished. The system  archetype I just reviewed? A complete blur. Even the name of that profound war philospher who seemed so insightful yesterday? He’s now reduced to “that guy.”

But before you also start spiraling, let me stop you right there—forgetting doesn’t mean your brain is broken. It means it’s brilliant. Forgetting is not a glitch; it’s a feature—a finely tuned system designed to clear out life’s junk drawer so you can actually focus on what matters (like passing that exam without sweating through your shirt).

Think about it. Do you really need to remember every detail of yesterday’s lunch?  No. You need your brain to prioritize, and that’s exactly what it’s doing when it “forgets” things. So, the next time you blank out mid-study session, don’t panic—your brain’s just busy tidying up so you can shine when it counts.

Let's be honest—forgetting is often a blessing in disguise. Do you really want to remember the time you confidently waved back at someone, only to realize they were waving at the person behind you? Or when you enthusiastically recounted a story to a group, only to be met with blank stares because you'd already told it—twice? 

No, you don't. You want to remember the highlights—the laughter, the successes—not the time you mispronounced a common word during a presentation and became the class meme for a week. Forgetting isn't a flaw; it's your brain's way of editing out the bloopers so you can focus on the feature film of your life.

So, the next time you draw a blank on a minor detail, take it as a sign that your brain is prioritizing the moments that truly matter—and sparing you from reliving the ones that don't.

Six Reasons Forgetting Deserves a Gold Star

1. The Importance of Forgetting Certain Things for Exam Preparation

Forgetting isn’t a flaw—it’s your brain’s way of decluttering and prioritizing what matters most. It clears out outdated or irrelevant details, like old passwords or awkward memories, so you can focus on the information that’s actually useful. This mental “spring-cleaning” helps prevent overload and sharpens your ability to recall what’s important during exams.

When preparing for tests, forgetting irrelevant details or past mistakes can boost focus and confidence. It’s like closing unnecessary browser tabs to speed up your device. Bombed a  test? Forget it and move on. Focus on refining key concepts and strategies that will help you succeed. After all, clearing mental clutter lets you tackle the exam with a sharper, more organized mind!

Our brain’s motto? “If it’s not useful, it’s outta here.”

2. Forgetting Makes You Smarter (Yes, Really).

Ever gone out for sushi so many times that you can’t remember which roll you loved most—but somehow became an expert in Japanese cuisine? That’s experiential learning. Forgetting individual details helps you absorb the bigger picture.

Ladies generally remember random specifics—like the exact outfit they wore to a party—but US? We trade details for wisdom. And sometimes, that wisdom includes knowing which sushi place won’t give you food poisoning.

3. Selective Memory = Brain Goals.

Good memory isn’t about remembering everything; it’s about filtering out the nonsense. Your brain is like a nightclub bouncer—letting good memories in and kicking out the riff-raff (like your friend’s awkward jokes). Forgetting irrelevant details means you can focus on the important stuff—like remembeing only 6 Question after your indepth chatGPT analysis for your  exam.

4. Forgetting Helps You Focus—Even If You’re Thinking About Dinner.

Ever sat down to study and suddenly wondered, “What’s for dinner?” Forgetting is your brain’s way of shushing those random thoughts so you can actually focus—at least until hunger wins and you end up checking stock exchange mid-study session.

5. Forgetting Fuels “Flow”—AKA Your Brain’s Happy Place.

Ever been so absorbed in something that you lost track of time? That’s called “flow,” and it’s the mental zone where you do your best work—or at least pretend you’re doing your best work while binge-watching Netflix. Forgetting helps you stay present by pushing out intrusive thoughts about past embarrassments (or that awkward text you sent).

6. Forgetting is Emotional First Aid.

Life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. It’s full of spills, snarky comments, and painfully bad karaoke nights. But forgetting acts as your brain’s emotional Band-Aid, covering up the sting so you can move on.

Sure, the big stuff—heartbreaks, losses, epic failures—sticks around. But even those memories fade over time, like a bad haircut growing out. Forgetting doesn’t erase them; it just softens the edges, letting you heal without reliving every detail.

And if those painful memories keep popping up like unwanted ads? That’s not your brain failing—it’s just asking for a reboot.

The Raghu kutei has said happiness depends on “being able to forget at the right time as well as to remember at the right time.” Forgetting isn’t weakness; it’s balance. It’s what keeps us from drowning in mental clutter and helps us focus on the stuff that matters—like enjoying life instead of replaying every awkward handshake.

Imagine if you remembered everything—every insult, every missed deadline, every embarrassing fall. You’d be too busy cringing to leave the house. Forgetting is what lets us laugh, love, and move forward without dragging every misstep along for the ride.

So the next time you walk into a room and forget why you’re there—or stare blankly at your exam paper—don’t panic. Your brain isn’t broken; it’s busy filtering out the noise so you can focus on what counts. And if all else fails, just remember this—forgetting is proof that your brain knows exactly what it’s doing.

Unless, of course, you also forgot where you left your drink.... In that case, good luck.....