If you cheered when the new Ghostbusters remake came out, are addicted to Pokémon Go and love adult colouring books, you could be accused of living in the past. Some psychologists say this is a reaction to our increasingly stressful lives – we want to return to a time when we had no pressure or adult responsibilities – but this is not something you should be embarrassed about. In fact, experts now say nostalgia is good for our wellbeing. From fighting depression to improving your fitness, going back in time can help you build a healthier future.
‘The dictionary defines nostalgia as a sentimental longing for the past, but nostalgia is a positive thing for most people,’ says Dr Tim Wildschut, associate professor in psychology and expert in nostalgia at the University of Southampton. ‘It’s not a stuffy, past-orientated emotion, or just elderly people staring out the window. It’s an active, forward-looking, motivating emotion.’ And, it can boost our mood, raise self-esteem and help us feel more connected to others, says Dr Wildschut. It can also improve our memory, creativity and fitness.
But how can going through an old photo album, or visiting the area you grew up in, do all that? Dr Wildschut describes it as like going to the bank and asking for a loan. ‘The bank manager looks at your credit history and if it’s good, it gives them confidence that you can pay back the loan in future. Nostalgia is very similar: if we look back on cherished memories, it gives us confidence that similar things will happen again. It fills you with confidence and optimism about the future.’ So, rather than living on past glories, remembering previous events helps us feel more positive about our lives ahead.
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December/January 2017
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