Nostalgic memories of the past could make some people feel more positive about their prospects for the future, according to researchers from University of Southampton in the UK.
Researchers surveyed a group of volunteers on their self-perception after hearing a nostalgic holiday song or story. They found that those who heard a nostalgic song were more likely to report optimistic feelings about the future than those in a control group:
"Nostalgia is experienced frequently and virtually by everyone, and we know that it can maintain psychological comfort. For example, nostalgic reverie can combat loneliness. We wanted to take that a step further and assess whether it can increase a feeling of optimism about the future," the researchers said.