The meaning of New Year’s resolutions and the sense of nostalgia

What is the most effective way to keep your New Year’s resolutions? It’s best not to make them because setting endless goals can lead to a downward spiral of unrealized challenges. So maybe in 2024, it is worth demanding a little less from yourself, consciously choosing small changes instead of more difficult ones, and even indicating those goals that should be stopped once and for all. Significantly small changes in habits and modest goals often impact our transformation more than significant challenges. According to the Taoist concept of wu-wei, it is worth removing the “doer” – that is, yourself – from the field of view and adopting a less dictatorial approach to yourself and your surroundings to allow changes to occur naturally, without the interference and mental torment that we usually cause for ourselves.

Ever since Johannes Hofer created the term “nostalgia” in a 1688 medical treatise, it has been portrayed as a mental disorder suffered by someone who prefers to lose himself in the past at the expense of the present. However, according to scientists, nostalgia – an emotion that is not necessarily liked – is common and can also benefit mental health. According to psychologists, nostalgia is an essential psychological resource – it gives motivation, helps to achieve goals, gives meaning to life, and feels connected with others. Research shows that nostalgia makes people feel more connected to each other. Nostalgia strengthens our sense of self-continuity and gives life greater meaning due to its impact on social connections.