For those with an intact inner child, you may enjoy watching the short clip from the 2007 film called Ratatouille. This is the story of Remy, a rat, who dreams of becoming a chef.

The title of the movie refers to a simple French peasant dish, which Remy personally cooks to impress Anton Ego, a villain food critic. The dish is so brilliantly prepared that it reminds Ego of the childhood memory of his mother cooking-while tears flow from his eyes.  

I think we all have experienced those wistful memories of the cakes coming out from our mother’s oven. These sentimental yearnings consisting of intense and vivid memories are what we know as nostalgia. The word nostalgia derives from the Greek and it means the suffering that results from a desire to return to things of the past.

Reading a recent article from the Scientific American Mind Magazine reminded me of this scene in the movie. This article explains that nostalgia can promote a sense of social integration in people who are sad or feel alone.

Although nostalgia was once considered an unhealthy preoccupation, new research reveals that it improves people’s moods and is a sign of emotional well being.

Yearning for yesterday is good for us according to a team of researchers from the University of Southampton in the UK, so pull out your dusty photograph albums and enjoy your memories.

Originally posted on: 4 August 2010
Last updated on: 24 March 2024

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Silvia Damiano

Silvia Damiano

Founder & CEO
About my Brain Institute

Scientist, educator, author, speaker, coach, award-winning leadership specialist, filmmaker and creator of the i4 Neuroleader Model & Methodology.

Silvia's scientific background and curiosity about the human brain led her to a decade long journey of research into optimal brain functioning and the application of neuroscience in leadership and daily life. Her past and current roles have uniquely prepared her for the current undertaking, that of leadership activist & change agent.

Silvia Damiano founded The About my Brain Institute in 2009, with the purpose of democratising leadership & neuroscience. She has a passionately held belief, that leaders in our 21st century global economy and their organisations must radically change long-held ideas of what constitutes effective leadership

In her ground-breaking books ‘Leadership is Upside Down’, ‘Brain-Friendly Leadership’ and the 2018 documentary ‘Make Me A Leader’, Silvia provides both compelling evidence and explores the importance of leadership in our personal and professional lives and what it takes to develop the human behind the leader.

Silvia has worked in different countries, across many industries, helping teams and organisations improve business performance. Silvia’s clients have described her as a passionate, dynamic, a highly experienced speaker and master facilitator on the topics of Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Change, Neuroleadership & Engagement.

Silvia is passionate about leaving a legacy of well-rounded leaders who can act and decide in a way that better serves humanity. Her clients include Microsoft, Australian Stock Exchange, NSW Government, VISA, Fuji Xerox and Manpower amongst many other global companies.

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