Do you ever find yourself randomly thinking back to the times we wandered, collecting wildflowers and smiling beneath the sky? That feeling is often referred to as nostalgia(怀旧).
Psychologists have defined nostalgia as a self-conscious, social emotion, bittersweet but dominantly positive. It comes from our happy memories and our desire to go back to the past and reconnect with the people we cared about. Often, nostalgia involves sensory stimuli. On some occasions, the smell of autumn leaves might generate a fierce longing for your childhood home. Almost everyone can experience nostalgia, although its object tends to vary throughout life. One survey conducted by the psychologist Krystine Irene Batcho found that younger people felt more nostalgia for pets, toys, and holidays than did older people, who felt it more strongly for music.
In contrast to its links to negative emotions, nostalgia doesn't make us sadder. Rather, nostalgia is a defensive response to unhappiness, one that brings relief from a negative mood. Research from 2006 shows that nostalgia can actually strengthen social ties, improve self-esteem, and uplift our mood. Other studies suggest that it can also enhance our view of life's meaning, reduce fear of death, boost spirituality, and increase optimism.
Scholars remain uncertain about the precise mechanism behind the effectiveness of nostalgia; however, some suggest that reflecting on joyful memories strengthens our sense of self-worth and belonging, particularly during times of loneliness or self-doubt. Its power lets the happiness of the past overcome the current unpleasantness, offering a bit of escape from tough times. To form stronger connections, we can establish traditions around shared past experiences in families, friend groups, and workplaces. Observing special occasions like childhood sports or post-college meetups can give us something to look forward to.
Perhaps because it is so powerful and complex, nostalgia has received magical treatment from poets and writers. "The past is hidden somewhere outside the realm(领域), beyond the reach of intellect, " Marcel Proust wrote.
