Nostalgia helps us find meaning in life

  • Research suggests nostalgia can be an important resource for increasing meaning, by highlighting central moments in our lives and giving us a sense of continuity
  • One study compared nostalgia to two seemingly related forms of thinking about one’s life: recalling a positive past event or imagining a desired future
  • Focusing on an event that made them nostalgic led people to feel their lives had more meaning compared to imagining a desirable future