The Nostalgia Project: How Reconnecting With Your Past Can Help Your Present

@wattpad

In my creating innovative spaces class, we were tasked with creating a concept or platform that would attempt to heal the cracks in society that currently keep us from connecting with others. With all the polarizing factors of today’s world it can feel at times like there's no one in your corner of the ring. It’s you fighting the world. Often, it feels like our own singular and unique lanes in life don’t intersect with the lanes of others. So in an attempt to combat this lack of human connectedness, our class developed the Nostalgia Project. The Nostalgia Project is a social media campaign designed to inspire human connections by sharing childhood memories.

@mickenziereed

Perhaps just reading this sentence will urge you to start thinking back and sharing your childhood experiences with others, but for a little extra encouragement Urban Body Fix is letting you in on the wellness benefits that nostalgia can provide. 

@collagekitgallery

A Meaningful Life

It’s inspiring to think about a study done on the effects of nostalgia summarizing their findings in the sentence: “nostalgia’s net effect is to make life more meaningful.” In life’s storm of obligations one forgets to take stock of life’s meaning. We lose that sense of childhood purpose that used to apply to playing a game of tag or duck duck goose. When whoever was it or running as fast as one could was all that mattered in the moment. It’s important to reflect on our formative years and experiences in order to make better sense of our present. We can put more effort and purpose into ourselves when we find more meaning in our everyday lives. 

@photographerunknown

Connectedness 

Nostalgia has an incredible way of breaking down barriers between people.  When we begin fitness or wellness journeys it can often feel like a solo journey. Researchers found that nostalgia is one of the most commonly felt emotions around the globe. Even seven year old’s felt fond memories about past birthdays and holidays. Nostalgia can help us to connect with others on similar wellness and fitness paths. So know that wherever you’re starting from or looking to go, someone can relate. 

@society19

Stress Reduction

In line with nostalgia’s ability to instill more meaningfulness to life, this greater pride and connection with ourselves leads to mood boosts. People who were nostalgic were found to be able to reduce stress through these mood boosts. The social connectedness that nostalgia encourages also makes people feel more loved in their life which can help to combat feelings of anxiety and loneliness. When we think about the past, we don’t stress in the present. 

@joelmeyerowitz

Think Happy

When people experience nostalgia, they tend to feel happier. Carve out little times in your day to think back on happy moments or memories in your life for a little happiness burst in your day. Feeling nostalgic can lead to higher self-esteem, pride in life, and feelings of love and warmth to those around you. Give yourself a smile by looking back at the previous moments that made you smile :) 

@buzzfeed

Nostalgia Tips (via PCA Global)

• Never miss a chance to build nostalgia memories

• Draw on your nostalgic repository for an instant mood boost

• Do not compare your past memories with present ones, this is a bad way to use nostalgic memories and you are at real risk of ruining the psychological gains of Nostalgia – focus on the past in an existential way “what has my life meant?”.

• Use it as a prized possession – you have it and nobody can take it away from you.

Follow @nostalgia.umich and @UrbanBodyFix to reminisce together.