If you typically skip school reunions or avoid dwelling on the past, you might want to reconsider. New research from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) suggests that indulging in wistful memories can significantly increase feelings of gratitude.
A study published in Personality and Individual Differences found that engaging in nostalgic experiences — such as listening to an old song or daydreaming about a past event — strengthens a person’s sense of social connection. It is this feeling of belonging that subsequently drives the boost in thankfulness.
“There was a tiny bit of research out there suggesting that nostalgia and gratitude were linked causally, but also there was some question of what’s driving it,” says Jeffrey Green, a professor of psychology at VCU. “And that mechanism turned out to be feelings of social connectedness.”
From ‘demonic’ to beneficial
The findings mark a significant shift from how nostalgia was viewed historically. In the 1600s, the term was coined by a Swiss medical student to describe a “brain disease of demonic origin” observed in homesick mercenaries.
However, modern psychology is increasingly viewing these trips down memory lane as beneficial. To test the theory, the researchers conducted several studies, including one where participants listened to nostalgic music and then rated their emotional state.
The results were consistent: remembering nostalgic moments prompts people to consider their social ties, which promotes gratitude for their lives and experiences.
Combatting social media envy
The researchers suggest that people can actively harness this effect to improve their psychological well-being. Purposefully engaging with “nostalgic triggers” — such as looking at old photographs, smelling specific scents, or listening to music — could help bolster feelings of gratitude.
Green notes that this is particularly valuable in the era of social media, where constant comparison to artificial standards makes gratitude harder to come by.
“I think if you have to boil it down to one thing… you usually get back to quality connections with other human beings,” Green says. “Gratitude is one of these meta approaches, where it’s focusing on what you have rather than what you don’t have.”
