Memories of the Past Affect Our Present Emotional Well-Being (Essay Sample)

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Memories of the Past Affect Our Present Emotional Well-Being.
Applying the same principles to relationships can severely damage one's love-life and significantly affect the overall emotional well-being of that individual. The inverse is also true in the sense that memories can inform a person of a truth that they do not want to admit about a relationship. The person may end up in an unhealthy relationship because they did not listen to the emotional messages contained in memories. This essay highlights the apparent ability that memories have in influencing the present state of our emotional well-being.
Calling to memory important episodic recollections, including those of a nostalgic nature, influence mood through the memories' notable level of need for satisfaction (Houle & Philippe, 194). When these memories are repeatedly recalled, their impact on the present mood becomes repetitive, causing a change in an individual's overall well-being over time. Studies carried out to assess the overall change in mood and well-being after subsequent memory valence found that after three months, the mood changes were directly proportional to the kind of memories, positive or stressful, recalled.
The lives of individuals are guided by emotional memories. These recollections of significant past events help guide and inform individuals as they navigate the present and prepare for the future. In this sense, the memories work as teaching points drawn from significant life events. For instance, if one has tasted something spoilt then, one may avoid such spoilt things in the future. In that way, then the emotional memory protects the individual and informs future decisions about the spoilt item. Even so, sometimes people unintentionally apply the same principle to facets of life that concern their overall well-being.
The human mind can summon memories ranging from life events such as those that bring feelings of pride in endeavors and successes, exciting and unsullied love, joy, sadness, betrayal, and those that fall under the definition of nostalgia. These memories can be called upon by the mind consciously or unconsciously through daydreams or triggers of emotional recall. While positive memories can be recalled deliberately, they mainly offer the advantage of repairing negative moods. A study showed that participants who were assigned that task of recalling positive memories reported an overall increase in their positive mood with each recollection. The memories seemed to gradually change their overall outlook of present situations, and they appeared more hopeful about the future even when reminded of challenging current situations.
On the other hand, negative memories tend to cause an overall fall in mood and mental state. The intensity causes early signs of depression in some participants. The memory valence in individuals assigned traumatic, stressful, and negative memories increased adverse effects on their well-being. Apart from an overall drop in mo