Take A Trip Down Memory Lane
I'm moving out of my apartment and have been going through a bunch of old stuff to see what I should keep and what I should get rid of... and boy oh boy has it been stirring up a whole lot of nostalgia.
I find a lot of JOY in taking trips down memory lane. I tried on my old prom dress and letterman jacket, I rewatched my old state competition cheerleading videos and videos of my dad, I flipped through old sorority photos and even found the fraternity calendar I was featured in.
So many memories - and HAPPY feelings associated with those memories.
Let me pause for a second, my entire past wasn't all joyful. Sorting through all that stuff stirred up a lot of painful memories I've experienced as well. “It's like I saw all the seasons of my life flash before me. The highs and lows and everything in between - all somehow beautifully woven together.” @tiffany.louise
But I'm going to focus on the good times and joyful memories here. Promise 😉
Did you know spending time in nostalgia can do wonders for our brains. Research has shown that nostalgia can ease our anxiety. 💥
Knowing that - reminiscing on the past more often makes a whole lot of sense to do. [I’ve mentioned this before, studies have shown that stress and anxiety are at an all-time high, with over 40 million people dealing with anxious thoughts in the US alone.]
So when you feel stressed or anxious, try greeting the feeling with ✨nostalgia✨... One of the simplest things I have found you can do is: Flip through OLD photos. Researchers from United Kingdom’s Open University found looking at personal photos boosts mood much more than stuff like watching TV or eating chocolate. 🍫 Get out those #throwback pics!
