“Everything was better in the past.” – is a sentence that each of us has either heard or said to ourselves. But why do we always think that and what does this thought do to us?
“The good old days.” With this sentence, a nostalgic melancholy spread in us. We reminisce, rummage through old photos, or tell stories. Back then. Back when everything was better. In principle, that’s not reprehensible, after all, memories are something beautiful. However, if we keep telling ourselves that everything used to be better, we unconsciously take the chance to be really happy in the here and now. We live a toxic nostalgia.
THE ROSE-COLORED GLASSES
When we think about the past, we often have rose-tinted glasses on, just like when dating. In our memories, we only find positive moments. Experiences that we like to remember. Our brain does not forget negative events but can suppress them in a targeted manner – without us being aware of them. We put our old selves along with all the beautiful experiences on a pedestal that remains unreachable.
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THAT’S HOW IT WORKS
It is important that we also see our past as the past. So our experiences should not be a benchmark for the future, but something that we have experienced and that we can look back on with a healthy dose of distance. It’s not about forgetting everything beautiful. No. It’s about reflecting with a healthy perspective. What could I have done better? What have I done well? What can I learn from it?
HERE AND NOW
Try to live consciously in the moment. Soak up everything that’s happening around you. And don’t forget: soon the good old days will be what you are experiencing right now!
