The third type of forgetting is motivated forgetting, something we all wish we could do for one thing or another.

第三种是主动遗忘，我们总希望自己能够主动遗忘这件或那件事。

We don't know exactly how motivated forgetting happens, but part of our brain seems to step in and block the troubling memory from being retrieved.

我们不能确切知道主动遗忘是如何发生的，似乎是我们大脑中的某个部分介入，阻断了追忆令人不安的记忆。

We may need motivated forgetting to maintain our self-image, to maintain confidence, to stay optimistic about the future, or to be able to maintain relationships with people who have hurt us.

我们可能需要主动遗忘来维持自我形象，保持自信，笑对未来，或维持与那些曾经伤害过我们的人的关系。