As we approach the last day of the year, we have a perfect opportunity to reflect on our previous twelve months. One way to reminiscence is to think of the essential inspirations that shaped us, so here is a list of my top book recommendations.
Nostalgia gives us hope and inspires us to look forward to the future – what initially may sound like a paradox – looking back to move forward – is incredibly important. If we move forward without reflection, we continue walking almost blindly into the next year, next phase, and next commitment. We leave the memories behind and forget the opportunity for learning, growth and a better understanding of who we are and what we need to heal, be well, and thrive. We wish you a healing 2023!
Reflecting on the year can also lead to celebrating and connecting with feelings of belonging – we identify the people and communities that we connect with, places where we thrive and activities that nurture our wellbeing.
Nostalgia provides meaning – when we reflect on past experiences and our responses, we also make meaning which can inform how we move forward steadily and softly, with new levels of self-awareness.
Nostalgia improves our sense of identity – having a good sense of identity is a key to good wellbeing, so reflecting on how we have experienced the year can also highlight aspects of our identity we know and maybe were not aware of. With the new perspective, we can look back and discover more about ourselves.
Nostalgia helps forming of new memories – reflective practice helps us choose the memories we wish to keep, embed those in the context of our life story, and integrate them into our entire life development.
Good morning. I hope this finds you safe and well. I am waking up this weekend to the visceral realisation that it’s already Christmas. I expected to feel this way – we were so busy, so rushed, and so exhausted in autumn that I predicted this: Christmas came suddenly! While we managed to prepare the presents and the tree and plan everything a bit earlier than usual, the holiday weekend still feels sudden.
Reminiscence activities improve communication – this sounds basic, but it is not: sharing the story of our year with others helps us organise those experiences in a coherent story.
While we do so, we articulate the challenges and maybe even identify and name new strengths we have discovered during the challenges we have faced.
Reminiscence activities support our appreciation of our family history – knowing our roots or connecting with our ancestors, even through spiritual practices, can help us ground our current selves in the story of our tribe. I would only note that if we have experienced trauma, especially in our early years or if we happen to have complex attachment patterns, those practices can feel triggering. If that’s the case, it may be a signal for additional, safe, professional explorations too.
Reflecting on the past can reduce symptoms of depression, especially if we connect with past wins, victories or more subtle feelings like love, kindness, gratitude and awe.