![]() When we are unable to make decisions about a current challenge or get stuck in memories of better times from the past, we can sink into a state in which we kind of 'tune out' of the present and ignore very real threats or opportunities in the now."Īccording to Professor Degges-White, the very first step towards gratitude is 'waking up' and looking around you in order to recognize all of the things in life that you appreciate. "It's when we become stuck in our memories of people who have died, places or times in our lives when things were 'easier' or 'better' that invites in the negative effects of nostalgia. For instance, letters from home can be a lifeline for those who are engaged in warfare far away from what they consider 'home,'" the professor pointed out how being reminded of home can help people in very tough situations. "It's often memories of home and the people who surround us that keeps us able to deal with significantly concerning or dangerous conditions. "When we succumb to memories of how things 'used to be' and refuse to address the 'what is,' we may find ourselves overwhelmed by our current conditions and less able to manage current challenges," she said. However, when we begin 'living in the past,' we may be inviting into our lives less than optimal mental wellness and potentially compromised physical wellbeing, too," Professor Degges-White, from Northern Illinois University, explained to Bored Panda that there are certain pitfalls that come with reminiscing about the past too much. "Nostalgia has the 'super power' of helping us feel better about the 'now' by connecting us to positive feelings from the 'then.' Nostalgia can help us feel better about ourselves and more in control of current situations if we're able to channel that positivity into concrete actions or a reframed mindset about the present. You'll find Bored Panda's full interview with the professor about the 'super power' that is nostalgia below. Suzanne Degges-White, Ph.D., Licensed Counselor, Professor, and Chair at the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University, was kind enough to answer Bored Panda's questions about nostalgia, how much reminiscing is 'too much,' and how we can learn to be more grateful of what we have in the present. Scroll down, upvote your fave pics from the past, and tell us what you miss the most from your childhoods, Pandas! ![]() All that’s different is the shape and form, but the spirit remains the same. The things we miss are, at their core, the same. However, it doesn’t matter if you were born in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s (hello there!), 2000s, or even the 2010s: nostalgia for our childhoods/the best years of our lives unites us all. Most of the stuff featured here is from the past few decades, and it's reminded us to get back to work on our Time Machine. A social media project with a following of over 115.6k internet users, the account shares nostalgic photos of products, toys, and content that remind you of what the (recent) past was like. That’s where the ‘Pics that make you reminisce’ Twitter page comes in. Or maybe we were all just a tad more naive. The holds a special significance for many of us and probably many of: it was (arguably) a better time, the people were friendlier, life was simpler, and the future seemed far brighter.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |