Two weeks after the initial release of Inside Out 2, I went to see the movie and, boy, was it a rollercoaster of emotions. A scene that stuck out to me was when the emotion “Nostalgia” made her entry, however, the other emotions panicked and commented how she entered the protagonist’s brain earlier than she was supposed to and was asked to leave. At the time, I found it hilarious how they depicted “Nostalgia” as an old lady that wouldn’t make an appearance until later in the protagonist’s life. However, as the days roll by, there were lots of instances in my life, as a 19-year-old, that make me nostalgic.
Whether it was driving past my old school where I had spent most of my 19 years of my life in, or the park I played in as a child after school, or the building that now stands where my playschool once was, everything seemed to bring back a different memory. Each of these memories brought with it a bittersweet feeling of longing to return to those times –– that is, nostalgia. This summer, my first summer break from finishing my first year at college as an international student, there were lots of instances when I was hit with a burst of nostalgia. The easier days, non-stressful hours, fewer responsibilities and relaxed life of summer called out to me like a beacon in the darkness, even at the age of 19.
Lucky for us, this bittersweet feeling benefits us a lot more than it harms –– opposite of what the movie depicts. Even though nostalgia is essentially reminiscing about the past, it also acts as a fuel for the future. Nostalgia helps increase self-esteem, feelings of purpose and youthfulness. It acts as a strong restorative outlet in uncertain, stressful and overwhelming situations.
When we feel nostalgic and revisit happy memories, the brain releases feel-good hormones like dopamine. This gives one a natural high, and this can boost one’s mood by alleviating stress and anxiety.
A survey done in Washington, D.C. in 2023, showed that 60% of Americans believe nostalgic memories provide guidance when they are faced with uncertainty. Additionally, 77% of Americans believe that it acts as a source of comfort, and 72% believe that it acts as a source of inspiration for them. This goes to show that nostalgia is not just a sentimental indulgence, but also a very powerful psychological resource.
As nostalgia is caused due to a recollection of memories, it also plays a factor in an individual's creativity which is affected by several factors like emotions, memories, and experiences; research has gone so far as to show that being nostalgic also increases creativity. This is because nostalgia evokes memories and emotions that can activate the cognitive process of recalling and reconstructing information in memory, which ultimately fosters creativity.
All evidence goes to show that some amount of nostalgia is not only normal, but also healthy in most cases. There may come several instances in life where we look back fondly upon memories, and after reading this article, you can do that without worrying about its consequences. Dwelling in the past is not the most ideal thing to do, but looking back on good memories for a brief moment is exactly what you may need!
Pehal Aashish Kothari is a rising sophomore majoring in marketing with a minor in apparel merchandising.
