TSW Short: How to Use Nostalgia to Better Connect with Others

Speaker: 00:00:00

Some people are calling this the summer of nostalgia with Barbie adult happy

Speaker: 00:00:06

meals, Indiana Jones, and even the transformers, all making a comeback.

Speaker: 00:00:11

Some might also argue that it's actually the summer of no one having

Speaker: 00:00:15

an original idea, but that's a different podcast for a different time.

Speaker: 00:00:19

Welcome to episode 1 58 of this shit works.

Speaker: 00:00:22

A podcast dedicated to all things, networking, relationship

Speaker: 00:00:25

building and business development.

Speaker: 00:00:26

I'm your host, Julie Brown.

Speaker: 00:00:27

Speaker author and networking coach.

Speaker: 00:00:29

And today I am discussing.

Speaker: 00:00:32

What nostalgia is why we love it.

Speaker: 00:00:35

And how we can use it to better connect with others.

Speaker: 00:01:00

By definition, nostalgia is a sentimental, longing, or wistful affection for the

Speaker: 00:01:06

past, typically for a , period, or place with happy personal associations.

Speaker: 00:01:12

According to various studies and research conducted by Christine.

Speaker: 00:01:15

Bacho a professor of psychology at Le Moyne college, a licensed

Speaker: 00:01:20

psychologist and a nostalgia expert.

Speaker: 00:01:23

Nostalgia serves a number of functions.

Speaker: 00:01:25

In a recent interview with the American psychological association, dr.

Speaker: 00:01:29

Bacho describes nostalgia as an emotional experience that unifies.

Speaker: 00:01:34

She goes on to say that nostalgia by motivating us to remember the past

Speaker: 00:01:39

in our own life helps to unite us to that authentic self and remind us of

Speaker: 00:01:44

who we have been, and then compare that to who we feel we are today.

Speaker: 00:01:49

Hmm.

Speaker: 00:01:50

So that gives us a sense of who we want to be down the road in the future.

Speaker: 00:01:54

The other way that nostalgia serves as an essential psychological function

Speaker: 00:01:59

is that it is a highly social emotion.

Speaker: 00:02:02

It connects us to other people.

Speaker: 00:02:04

Ah, now we're getting somewhere.

Speaker: 00:02:07

According to the Institute for family studies, nostalgia focuses the mind

Speaker: 00:02:12

on what is most important for the good life family, close friends, community,

Speaker: 00:02:17

and the rituals and traditions that help preserve a social and cultural fabric.

Speaker: 00:02:22

Additionally across a number of studies.

Speaker: 00:02:25

The Institute observed that after engaging in nostalgic reflection, people feel

Speaker: 00:02:30

more socially valued, loved socially confident and optimistic about being able

Speaker: 00:02:36

to form and maintain close relationships.

Speaker: 00:02:39

Listen, I'm up for anything that helps people feel more socially

Speaker: 00:02:43

confident and optimistic about building and maintaining relationships.

Speaker: 00:02:48

And there is no better time than the summer for nostalgia.

Speaker: 00:02:53

According to a survey done by one poll.

Speaker: 00:02:55

The average person feels like a kid, again, four times a week in the summer

Speaker: 00:03:01

with 54% agreeing that summer is the most nostalgic time of the year.

Speaker: 00:03:07

I feel like that's interesting that it beats out the holidays, but anyways,

Speaker: 00:03:10

The top reasons for summer sentimentality include a clearer, more relaxed mind

Speaker: 00:03:16

as a result of increased time outdoors.

Speaker: 00:03:19

Family vacations, reminding people of their own childhood trips.

Speaker: 00:03:23

Getting to share summertime for traditions with their own family.

Speaker: 00:03:28

And activities that help bring out people's inner child, including

Speaker: 00:03:33

eating ice cream, going on road trips, blowing bubbles and riding a bike.

Speaker: 00:03:38

So.

Speaker: 00:03:40

For what precious little time we have left in the summer.

Speaker: 00:03:43

Why not spend some of it doing these things with the people in your network

Speaker: 00:03:47

to help you get closer, arrange a trip to a local ice cream stand, man.

Speaker: 00:03:52

Do we have some amazing family run stands here in the Northeast, and I'm

Speaker: 00:03:56

sure you have them where you live.

Speaker: 00:03:58

Or rent some bikes and get out there in the fresh air with some of your

Speaker: 00:04:02

networking friends, invite friends over to cannon ball in your pool.

Speaker: 00:04:06

If you have one or plan and movie night, there are.

Speaker: 00:04:10

Plenty of throwback movies to choose from.

Speaker: 00:04:12

As a note, the day of this recording of this podcast recording

Speaker: 00:04:16

me and my neighborhood girls.

Speaker: 00:04:18

Are all going to the Barbie movie.

Speaker: 00:04:20

All in pink get-ups and all ready to drink anything pink that they're serving.

Speaker: 00:04:26

So, what do you say, can you start bringing back the nostalgia and

Speaker: 00:04:31

start getting even more connected to the people in your network?

Speaker: 00:04:34

I think you can.

Speaker: 00:04:36

I think we can think about nostalgia as a way to connect better with people and

Speaker: 00:04:39

then all that will help us think of.

Speaker: 00:04:42

You know, more fun and interesting ways to network and reconnect.

Speaker: 00:04:47

Okay.

Speaker: 00:04:48

So since this is a, the church.

Speaker: 00:04:51

I almost didn't say it right.

Speaker: 00:04:52

This shit works short episode.

Speaker: 00:04:54

There isn't a drink of the week.

Speaker: 00:04:56

So just like I say, pour yourself a beer, a glass of wine, a cocktail, a

Speaker: 00:04:59

seltzer, a mocktail, and just reach out to someone today and plan to

Speaker: 00:05:03

put a little nostalgia in their day.

Speaker: 00:05:06

All right, friends.

Speaker: 00:05:07

That's all for this week.

Speaker: 00:05:08

If you like what you heard, please leave a review.

Speaker: 00:05:10

If you haven't left a review yet, please leave a review.

Speaker: 00:05:14

And subscribe to the podcast.

Speaker: 00:05:15

Also pleased to remember, to share the podcast, to help

Speaker: 00:05:18

it reach a larger audience.

Speaker: 00:05:19

If you want more, Julie Brown, you can find my book.

Speaker: 00:05:21

This shit works on Amazon and Barnes and noble.

Speaker: 00:05:23

You can find me on LinkedIn at Julie Brown BD.

Speaker: 00:05:26

Just let me know where you found me when you reach out.

Speaker: 00:05:28

I'm Julie Brown underscore BD on the Instagram, or you can just pop on over

Speaker: 00:05:31

to my website, Julie Brown, bd.com.

Speaker: 00:05:33

For way more information.