Tag: psychology

Nostalgia

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“n. a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.” from Oxford Languages

Nostalgia is derived from the Greek word nostos, meaning “a return home”. This alone can evoke so much emotion, in addition to a deep longing for something that happened in the past. All the feelings permanently etched in with that memory, the guttural reaction to incidents already transpired, leading to a re-enactment in our heart of what has been, and perhaps what never will be.

What is the purpose of this? The fondness forever tied to seemingly inconsequential events, random happenings that bear no specific use for later, other than to remind us of happier times. Going to grandma’s house for endless treats, walking down the same street where I once played as a child with friends….

A warm hug for my heart in troubling times. A return “home“.

Homeostasis

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“n. any self-regulating process by which an organism tends to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are best for its survival.” from Encyclopedia Britanica

The meaning of homeostasis, when considered from its origin of the Greek words “same” and “steady” is intuitively self-explanatory – keeping things same and steady; maintain equilibrium.

Our bodies have in-built physiological mechanisms to drive this process, when the body needs sustenance, hunger sensations are triggered. Dehydrated? You feel thirsty. These are “primordial feelings” according to Dr. Google.

What about when we’re depressed or angry? There aren’t any in-built mechanisms to actively restore homeostasis in episodes of anger or sadness. It’s rather ironic considering how powerful emotions can be.

There is a HBR article on the topic of resilience. It states “the key to building resilience is: give it all you’ve got, stop and recharge, then try again. Resilience isn’t about how much you can endure, but rather how well you can recharge yourself in between bouts of trying as hard as you can.“

This act of “recharging” echos closely to the physiological mechanism for homeostasis. Instead of the recharge being something that is triggered automatically, it takes conscious effort to implement.

A coffee and a nap sounds perfect right about now.

Ineffable

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“adj. too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.” definition from Oxford Languages

How do we categorically say something can be fittingly described as such? Where can one find such things? Why the constant longing for “greatness”?

Human psyche is an endlessly fascinating pool of conundrums waiting to be picked apart for analysis. You think you would know what is best for yourself, but one can argue it is in fact, the polar opposite. The endless (and recurring) mistakes we get ourselves into, the habitual self-denial to not break away from the known errors plaguing lives everyday… the counter argument goes on.

Yet the longing, wishing, hoping continues. This hope that has sutured itself to our psyche, and refuses to stop rearing its head. Comforting, in times of despair, knowing not all is lost.

This is ineffable.