One thing we all have in common is a past. You can use that to get your head into a better space when you need to, just by framing the appropriate prints and displaying them somewhere prominent enough that you can see them when life deals you a swift blow.
3 Reasons to Frame Nostalgic Prints
Nostalgic prints are negativity breakers
Everyone has down moments. That’s a given. Some have down days and others will have entire weeks self-indulging with Netflix (and probably loads of carbs). When those downer moments hit, negativity breakers are what you need. For some people, that’s music, others draw or paint, write poetry, journal, and then snap out of it.
When you don’t have the energy to summon to do something to get out of a rut, nostalgic prints can be the hero of the day. Just one look at an awesome print could free your mind of negativity. All it needs to do is make you smile.
Nostalgia can help shape the future
As a tool for self-discovery, nostalgia is up there with the best of self-help tools for the mind. It’s been found to increase optimism, offer up inspiration, and motivation. But the most potent of all emotions it helps you feel is appreciation. Appreciation for your past, and perhaps the memorabilia you may have collected along your journey through life.
Gratitude is a powerful motivator to lift your spirits, inspire action and propel you further along to reach your ambitions.
Become the protagonist of your story
You’re in charge of your destiny. Reminiscing about your past lets you get your bearings. To think about your true character, your likes, loves, passions, interests, and your memories.
The friends you’ve made from your early school years, every job you’ve ever had, people you’ve met on your travels, and even the strangers you’ve spoken to in town. Just one photo of the little shop in the corner could remind you of an encounter with a stranger who passed along some words of wisdom. Pictures tell a story.
When you see something that brings back fond memories, you smile. That’s always good. It’s uplifting and inspiring. Just to be able to look at a picture, recall a fond memory, smile, and think, yes, that really happened. Those were the days.
And that last part - the good old times - that’s the part to be careful with. Too much of a good thing is rarely good for the long term. Including memorabilia and nostalgic prints around the home, office, or holiday home. They are good for the mind as pick me ups. To help you through life’s bumps in the roads.
What isn’t so healthy for the mind is mythical nostalgia. Like framing photos that look like everyone’s had a great time, that your past was rosy when you know the truth of the event in the picture. Like everyone was smiling for the camera when in reality, the event, or the entire day was a train wreck. That ventures into creating fantasy nostalgia. It’s false memories that create an illusion of happy memories for everyone else to see them. The sort of thing has become mainstream on the photos shared on social media.
The nostalgic prints to put in picture frames are the real positive, uplifting, good vibe photos. The pictures of perfect (or at least were-near perfect) times that left you feeling buzzing for days. Like your first overseas holiday, song lyrics, album cover art of a concert you loved, photos of the stars at night, or a sunset on the horizon.
To use the words of Charles F. Kettering: “You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time.”
Make use of nostalgic prints as tools for your mental wellbeing. Not to live your life in the shadows of the past.