35 Nostalgic Posts From This Online Community That Perfectly Encapsulate Years Gone By

Clay Routledge is a psychological scientist, and somewhat of an expert when it comes to what role nostalgia plays in giving us meaning in life. He kindly agreed to share some of what he's learned over the years. “The most interesting thing we have discovered is that nostalgia is actually better described as a future-oriented experience,” he told Bored Panda. "Yes, nostalgia involves looking to the past. But the reason people are nostalgic is because they need comfort, inspiration and guidance to move forward."

Routledge says nostalgia can be triggered by various external stimuli, like hearing an old song or running into an old friend, but we tend to become the most nostalgic when we are experiencing some kind of stressor and are in some way unsatisfied with our current situation. "Nostalgia increases optimism about the future, the motivation to pursue life goals, openness to new ideas and experiences, and creativity. In short, nostalgia energizes and inspires us," revealed the expert.

He further added that nostalgia doesn't just boost our wellbeing and motivation, it also helps us generate new ideas. "I've talked to artists, designers, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders aspiring to create and innovate. All of them have nostalgic inspiration, meaningful memories that give them inspiration," revealed Routledge. "People who think nostalgia keeps us stuck in the past or serves as a barrier to new ideas don't understand that a healthy dose of nostalgia often plays a critical role in the creative process."

The Oxford English dictionary defines it as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.” And it's generally seen as a positive emotion. But Routledge says it there are some cases where nostalgia can be negative.

"Nostalgia can be unhealthy if people become seduced by the idea that the past was better and it will never be that good again," he explained. "This kind of pessimistic nostalgia is a barrier to gaining the best benefits nostalgia offers as a guide toward self-improvement, innovation, and progress."

Thankfully, Routledge says most people experience nostalgia in a good way. "Typically, nostalgia is a response to, not a cause of, negative thoughts and feelings. And it helps people productively work through their worries by reminding them of what has made their lives meaningful and inspiring them to move forward with purpose," he told us.

"If people find nostalgia is making them feel more negative about the present and future, I would encourage them to rethink their relationship with nostalgia. It should be a source of good feelings and inspiration."

You might be surprised to know that nostalgia was once seen as a mental illness. "For centuries, nostalgia was thought to be synonymous with depression. During the Thirty Years War, several Spanish soldiers were discharged from the army with nostalgic symptoms," reads the Neuroscience Of site. "The term nostalgia - formed from the Greek 'nostos' (homecoming), and 'algos' (pain) - was coined by the 17th-century Swiss physician, Johannes Hofer, who considered it to be a mental disorder."

Interestingly, past research has found that people are more likely to feel nostalgic on cold days than on warm days. And that the fuzzy feeling we get with heart-warming memories can literally warm us up. "Our study has shown that nostalgia serves a homeostatic function, allowing the mental simulation of previously enjoyed states, including states of bodily comfort; in this case making us feel warmer or increasing our tolerance of cold," said co-author of the study, Dr Tim Wildschut.