molecular memory and habits
Did you know that inanimate objects could hold molecular memory? If even paper has molecular memory, how much more powerful are human beings if we applied ourselves to what we truly wanted to become?
I am about to begin my mission to make a journal out of my handmade sheets of paper. I've started rereading How to Make Books in preparation and came across a line that got me thinking.
After folding an accordion [book], you may notice that it doesn't want to stay folded. You need to press accordions under weight to instill molecular memory.
Did you know that inanimate objects could hold molecular memory? Suddenly, all the self help talk about the importance of building habits clicked. Forget about discipline or gumption, the reason you need to show up for yourself every day is to build molecular memory.
Think of it this way. We can all start off as blank sheets of paper but the more that you consciously decide where the folds go, you can kind of determine what you're going to be whether that's an airplane, a book, a star, etc. And the more often that you show up to make the folds go where you want them to, you are rewriting your molecular memory. Until eventually, you aren't paper anymore, you ARE a book, or whatever you chose.
Not only is this a case to exercise agency over your life but this habit of working towards your dreams makes you less susceptible to fold under pressure or fall into the hands of what others want you to become instead.
If even paper has molecular memory, how much more powerful are human beings if we applied ourselves to what we truly wanted to become?