What Is Nostalgia and What Is It Good For?

Your favorite childhood movie. A whiff of the perfume your mom used to wear. That song. Nostalgia can strike at any moment, taking you back to days gone by, and filling your heart with a wistful longing.

But what exactly is nostalgia? And is that bittersweet twinge in your chest actually good for us, or is indulging in nostalgic reminiscence just another of those strange ways we humans like to torment ourselves emotionally?

It turns out, nostalgia is an emotion unlike any other, and though sometimes painful, the occasional walk down memory lane can actually be quite beneficial.

Is Nostalgia an Emotion?

According to Merriam-Webster, nostalgia is “a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition.” It comes from the Greek words nóstos, which means “homecoming,” and álgos, which means “ache” or “pain.”

If you’ve ever felt nostalgia, you know that it can feel a bit like its own emotion. It’s a very distinct, bittersweet feeling that’s hard to put into words, and there’s nothing quite like it. It’s not sadness, but it feels like wanting to reach out and hug something that you can’t touch, because it’s not really there—which isn’t exactly a joyful feeling.

Researchers have labeled nostalgia a “mixed emotion,” as well as a thought process, making it unique from other emotions. Studies have found that people “are most likely to think of the good old days when something goes wrong in the present,” although nostalgia can also be instantly triggered by a scent, a song, or even the weather.

However, nostalgia has also been proven to actually make us feel warmer (yes, physically warmer!), happier, and closer to loved ones while making us feel that life has more meaning.

Why Do We Feel Nostalgic?

There are a number of reasons why people experience waves of nostalgia. It’s often a way of coping with present blues, low self-esteem, or loneliness. In general, however, it tends to offer a positive net result.

The bittersweet feeling is due to the fact that particular moment in time is over, and can’t be reproduced. Yet, you’re happy knowing that it happened, and no one can ever take those memories from you.

The problem is when people get stuck in cycles of thoughts from the past. Maybe they’re going through a rough period, and as they think back on “the good ole days,” they feel convinced that they’ll never be that happy again, that the way they feel now is the way they’ll feel forever.

This can lead to a dangerous cycle that can perpetuate more unnecessary sadness if left unchecked, but it’s also rarely an accurate depiction of reality. Most likely, the past you’re thinking of only seems so idyllic because you’re comparing one very specific moment to the specific moment you’re living now.

Plus, memories tend to be selective, so you’re probably focusing on all the positive feelings you’ve come to associate with that time, but forgetting the reality, which is that everything wasn’t always that perfect.

Why It’s Good to Wax Nostalgic (Occasionally)

Staying stuck in the past is never a good thing; but indulging in some warm nostalgic feelings every once in a while has actually proven to be good for the soul.

1. Nostalgia brings calming feelings.

Significant changes in your life almost always cause some level of stress, regardless of whether the change was good or bad.

Nostalgia can actually keep you grounded by allowing you to track what has remained stable, which offers a sense of continuity that can be very comforting in times of uncertainty.

2. It can counter negative emotions.

If you’re far away from the ones you love, reminiscing on the times you shared together can help you relive the sense of being connected to them.

If there’s no chance of seeing that person or actually reliving those memories again, that can be very difficult to accept, but Dr. Seuss once offered some wise (albeit a little cheesy) advice: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

3. It can reinforce healthy behaviors.

If you’re feeling nostalgic, it’s most likely for a time when you were happy or thriving. By focusing on those times, you’re more likely to emulate the patterns and (hopefully) healthy behaviors that perhaps got you to that positive state.

For example, if you’re feeling nostalgic for your childhood, you might feel encouraged to get active again, or seek out loving, secure relationships. Recent studies report that nostalgia can also raise optimism, evoke inspiration, and even boost creativity.

4. Nostalgia can serve as therapy for the aging.

Music is one of the most powerful mechanisms for inciting nostalgia. As such, music is sometimes used as therapy for the elderly and those who suffer from memory confusion or distortion.

Nostalgia brought on by music stimulates different parts of the brain. New studies suggest that when you listen to songs that make you feel nostalgic, it activates the emotional sensors of your brain and connects with the parts that store your autobiographical memories.

5. The past can help guide your future.

Indulging in some healthy nostalgia (i.e., appreciating the past, instead of getting stuck in it) can actually help you to become more inspired and optimistic about the future.

It provides a sense of security by allowing us to temporarily stay grounded in the past while we plan for the future.

How Do You Use the Word Nostalgia?

Nostalgia is a noun. Here is an example of how nostalgia can be used in a sentence:

She was overcome by nostalgia when their old song came on the radio.

Nostalgic, on the other hand, is an adjective that describes the feeling of nostalgia, or something that inspires nostalgia.

Here is an example of how nostalgic can be used in a sentence:

The song made her feel nostalgic about her time in Rome.

Write About Your Nostalgia

A walk down memory lane can be warm and comforting, but it can also help inspire some brilliant ideas for your writing.

Try writing about your feelings of nostalgia, either in a journal or a creative writing exercise. You never know where those memories might lead you!

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

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