Why Nostalgia Can Improve Your Life
Laura Lee - February 1, 2018

We’ve all felt that bittersweet nostalgic feeling here and there.  We’ve often been told to stop being hung up on the past, and to stay as optimistic as possible about the present.   Agreed that it can be harmful to be overly fixated on the good old days, however a healthy dosage of nostalgia never hurt anyone, and actually is good for our health.
 
First off, it can help you to feel more connected to others.  Nostalgia helps people feel more valued and loved, and further improves our perceptions of social support when we are lonely.  Next time you find yourself smiling about a funny memory, let your old friend know and share the laughs with them. It’s always better to reminisce together, and is a great way to reconnect and strengthen your relationships.
 

Nostalgia can also help us deal with transitions, which can commonly be difficult for young adults who make significant life changes, such as starting a new job or moving away.  In such times, it’s only natural that we will turn to our cherished childhood memories. The days when we have no worries other than what to have for snack time. And if you do it correctly, it can be highly beneficial to your well-being.  Doing such correctly means enjoying those memories for what they are, and not comparing them to your current situation.  Nostalgia can also be a useful reminder that in the past we have successfully managed to deal with other difficult transitions into new situations.

 
Nostalgia can also allow us to be more positive towards whats to come.  Past memories can help us to maintain feelings of self-worth, and have a positive outlook towards the future.  Our eyes always light up with excitement when we think about our fond memories, and these feelings can serve as motivation to continue.
 
It also serves as a useful tool to remind us how meaningful our lives truly are.  Nostalgia stores positive emotions in our memories and we subconsciously use them throughout our lives.   Cherished memories can help lift our spirits.  Nostalgia can help prevent us from getting sidetracked by small problems, and focus more on the big problem.

 
 

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