This is where things can get even more interesting than they were already and this phase may not be for everyone. In my own experimentation I found that events I had completely forgotten popped up. Most vivid were those from childhood. Nothing dramatic - but I found myself viewing and experiencing a scene from my childhood but now, as an adult, able to analyse what was going on and what it meant in the broader canvas of my and my family's life and dynamics. That, in turn, led to an understanding of what was going on in that scene that did not occur to me at the time. I had just "lived" it.
This new "understanding" was, in a sense, revelatory and induced a certain amount of reflection on my part. I now had my own mature perspective and insight into the background events and context of my childhood. I mention this aspect as, just for a while, I found this just a little disquieting. Through the medium of meditation I was looking at a relatively insignificant events through my own eyes as a child but, now, with an adult's understanding of what was actually happening. And, naturally, there were more "dimensions" to them than I understood at the time. Fortunately, I had someone I could talk this through with and soon came to terms with its significance.
The meditative state can open up your synapses is unexpected ways as well as directed ones. For this reason, I recommend embarking on a memoir - and certainly this stage of the process - knowing there is someone you can talk things through with if you need to.
All this said, you should repeat Phase 2 as often as you feel it is productive. Once you are familiar with the meditative state choose your own time to repeat it and even come out of it after you have explored each individual memory to be able to make notes even if it is only a for few minutes. There may be memories “wanting” to come out and, if they have not already, you should probably let them, whatever they are. Whether you eventually include them is another matter but you will probably not be able to move on from them until you have accepted and “logged” them.
If you find that your mind is blank on entering the meditation that can be beneficial. You can now choose some themes to direct your quest to areas that will be relevant. Here are a few to begin with. Choose one at a time as a “trigger” or “departure-point” for a meditation.
Armed with the headlines and brief notes any of these triggers have produced return to your meditation whenever you are ready but, this time, select one of these triggers in your mind at the start and see if the meditation takes you anywhere new.
Remember, the primary goal of this guide is to get you multiple individual memories to select from. The greater that choice the better. Repeat the meditation sessions for as long as you feel it is fruitful. Then compile a list of individual memories under a headline you have chosen to enable you to bring it quickly to mind.
All of these memories are likely to be valuable to you, personally, in some way or another but for the purpose of creating a memoir you will want to select those that will also have value to others and make the best possible reading.
As a guiding principle, to consider a particular memory for inclusion, it should, ideally, be part of a self-contained story with its own beginning, middle and end. Ask yourself, what did that event mean to you at the time and then consider how you see it now. Did it have any repercussions? How did affect you? How did it make you feel? Did it change you or your perceptions? What consequences do you think it might have had for anyone else? Could you ever know? The answer to these sorts of questions will produce the most important elements of a memoir - your "reflections" on your life's events and their ultimate meaning and value to you and, by extension, to others, too.
A definition of a reflection could be any thought related to a memory that naturally begins with phrases like: “Looking back now, I realise that this event/meeting/person/place etc. would come to: “have an influence”, “mark a turning point”, “make me realise", etc. etc.
Whether you ultimately include any particular story in your memoir is still to be decided. When you do, you will probably give most preference to those stories that do produce "reflections" and then you will ask yourself if a story does at least one of the following: enlighten, entertain, help, instruct, uplift, motivate, inform, or encourage.
I talk about "stories" because these are the best way to reveal things about ourselves and others. The inclusion of a story that reveals a fallibility, regret or a foible of the teller can also be one that informs the audience straight away that they are listening to something frank, candid and all the more interesting for it.
A memoir is not a CV designed to “impress” or an opportunity to “redress”. It is more an opportunity to “confess” as much of the truth about ourselves as we possibly can. It is also your opportunity to describe things as you saw them and, perhaps, if necessary, “set things straight”. However, it is probably best not to allow such an element to become dominant or intrusive.
As you look down your growing list of memories consider the "warmth" factor associated with each one. If a memory makes you "feel" very good then score it with a +10. If there is something about it that makes you "feel" very bad then give it a -10. Then score everything else between these two parameters.
A negative number might suggest that it is not one you want to dwell on. However, upon reflection, you might come to feel that however it struck you initially, on balance, it might have led to something beneficial and therefore attract a warmer feeling and a higher score. Only you can tell and you will not need to make a final decision until much later in this process.
Feelings and attitudes.
Your "feelings" towards events and also external things are likely to have evolved throughout your life and will reveal information not only about you but about the times and events you have lived through. Charting these feelings retrospectively can be a source of self discovery and give added depth to your memoir. Try and be aware of how you are feeling as you remember.