3 ways nostalgia can trigger hope and joy
- apocketfulofhappin
- Nov 18, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 7
Until the turn of this century, nostalgia—a sentimental longing for something good that happened in our past—often dominated conversations at family gatherings and class reunions. Close relatives and friends would fondly remember the good times they shared and the happy memories they created together.
Today, nostalgic vibes have found a new—and perhaps, sadly, more permanent—home on social media, particularly in WhatsApp groups. While it’s nice that technology has made it easier and faster to stroll down memory lane with frequent sharing of old anecdotes and photographs, it has taken away some of the joy of sitting down and exchanging stories over tea and laughter.
In that sense, we are depriving ourselves of a nostalgia that once had a magical way of warming our hearts. Instead, we seem to be quite content tapping into and downloading nostalgic fragments of years gone by.
On the bright side, regardless of the form, nostalgia continues to evoke mixed feelings of pleasure and occasional sadness. Whether it’s flipping or scrolling through old photos, remembering our childhood or reminiscing about the songs we listened to and the places we visited, these are all precious moments that connect us.
“I’d trade all my tomorrows for one single yesterday.”
— Kris Kristofferson
American country music singer, songwriter and actor
Nostalgia is more than just a yearning for our past. It’s also about appreciating the many good things we experienced in our life up to the present, and allowing those memories to inspire us as we move into the future.
A research paper published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin suggests that nostalgia can make people more optimistic about the future. The study found that participants who reflected on their past apparently felt more optimistic, socially connected and inspired.
To me, it means: We can make all the things that were good in our past good again in our present and future.
Here’s how reflecting on happy times can fill us with hope and amplify our joy.
1. Recalling joyful moments can elevate our mood
Most of us tend to feel nostalgic when we’re already in good spirits. However, it’s less commonly known that nostalgia can also elevate our mood during times of stress and anxiety. When we look back, it not only puts our minds in a comfortable place but also in a better frame of mind.
Here’s a personal example: Whenever I’m feeling low, often without reason, I bring out my collection of comic-books and spend an hour or two flipping through them. Afterward, I sort them out before putting them away. Comic-books are my safe haven; they lift my spirits instantly. They take me back to my schooldays, when my dad and I read comics together.
Tip: Create a “nostalgia toolkit” of your photos, diaries and keepsakes or rekindle childhood hobbies. You can turn to them whenever you need a dose of positive energy.
2. Listening to music transports us back in time
Listening to music can be an emotional experience for most of us. It takes us back to specific moments in time, particularly our childhood and early youth. For example, listening to disco music might take an entire generation back to the 1970s, reminding them of glittering dance floors, flared pants, and the carefree exuberance of that era. Remember John Travolta walking down the street to ‘Stayin’ Alive’ in Saturday Night Fever, with a paint can in one hand?
“When listening to music, the brain’s visual cortex lights up. This causes us to associate the sound with visual and other memories almost instantly. These ‘sensory snapshots’ become memories and remain with us for the rest of our lives,” says Sound of Life in an article titled Ever Wondered Why Music Is So Nostalgic? Here’s the Science Behind It. “Again, we can still create these connections when older, but the ones made before the brain finishes developing (at 25) are likely to be the most deep-rooted and powerful. This is called the ‘reminiscence bump’.”
This explains why certain tunes, whether songs or instrumentals, brighten our mood.
My anecdote: The songs I listened to on All India Radio while growing up in the 1970s have stayed with me to this day and are now part of my playlists. I play them during my office commutes, walks on the track or road trips. They bring back memories of family weekends spent huddled around the radio and recording songs on an old-fashioned Polish tape recorder that my dad bought for the princely sum of Rs.600 (about $67 at the time).
Tip: Curate playlists of some of your old favourites. This way, you not only relive happy memories whenever you like but also unwind and relieve the stress of the day. Tell your children about the songs you listened to in your time—chances are they’ll love them too and might even add them to their own playlists. Children are usually curious and fascinated by stories about their parents’ childhood.
3. Strengthening our bonds through shared memories
When cousins or old school friends meet after a long time, the first thing they usually do is take a trip back in time. They share stories of the good old days, the fun they had as kids. Everyone can relate to this nostalgic journey because everyone was present at the time, which creates a sense of belonging and strengthens bonds. Recollecting experiences like family vacations, old friendships or childhood adventures keeps us in touch with those who shaped our lives.
My take: This is a universal experience. Family gatherings and weddings have always provided the perfect backdrop for sharing—and laughing over—childhood stories, even the embarrassing ones. From the pranks we pulled on one another to the games we played and the silly arguments we had, these moments aren’t just about reliving the past; they also help keep relationships strong and bring families closer, no matter how much time or distance separates us.