Happy childhood memories are like a warm, fragrant breeze that propels us into adulthood. This situation of well-being is synonymous with psychological balance, a model of health that every human being should always have at hand.
Written and verified by the psychologist GetPersonalGrowth.
Last update: 15 November 2021
The memories of a happy childhood are part of that substrate that nourishes our well-being in adulthood. Gestures that convey sincere affection and care are seeds that nourish psychological health. Similarly, few experiences are more exciting than a childhood characterized by the taste of joy, discovery and those anecdotes that we always remember with pleasure.
We are made of memories. Our mind constantly takes refuge in that casket in which our story is contained, that sometimes pleasant perfume where we can make sense of ourselves, where we can remember what we have been and what somehow led us to the present moment. ..
A happy childhood is a trampoline on which dreams jump as a strong impetus for growth. It is there that fears doze off and do not bother, allowing our potential to develop with optimism and strength.
Unfortunately, we know that not all people have been able to enjoy this privilege. Traumatic pasts also abound, as is that education in which detachment or emotional coldness has created an emotional void. It is very difficult to achieve in the absence of supporting columns that support us.
However, this does not mean that we cannot lead a happy life in adulthood. It just means that it can be a little more difficult, that the journey can be longer and more tiring. We all have the right and the obligation to go through difficult stages to become the people we deserve, that is, with the right to well-being and personal fulfillment.
"One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is having a happy childhood."
-Agatha Christie-
Happy childhood memories are synonymous with physical and psychological health
Happy childhood memories give us great emotional strength. It may sound poetic, but it actually contains an obvious fact proven now by neuroscience. In a study published in the journal Health Psychology and conducted by doctors William Chopik and John Eldestein, it is emphasized how much that a happy childhood and adolescence have a positive effect on our well-being.
According to this research work, in addition to a happy childhood, it is equally important to enjoy a meaningful adolescence, full of intense, happy and fulfilling experiences. Such a claim has several implications.
The first is that the role of parents and the family environment are crucial in order to instill confidence, sufficient self-esteem, the ability to achieve success and a healthy and strong emotional intelligence.
Dr. Chopik of Michigan State University also talks about the importance of caring for that broad age group of 6 to 18 years. This is where peers, friends, in short, all the people who make up their own social circle come into play. Even the school and the experiences lived in it will determine our future well-being.
In the study cited, it can also be found that people between 40 and 50 who have a happy childhood and adolescence have higher scores in physical and psychological health than those who had experienced adverse or traumatic experiences.
Happy childhood memories help calm stress
Happy childhood memories are good for calming stress in adulthood. This is because being happy in the first few years of life makes the brain more resilient when our fears are taken into account, making us feel safe and loved.
You have to consider what factors like abandonment, screaming, insecurity, physical and psychological abuse generate very high levels of cortisol in the body. This hormone impairs normal brain development by plunging us into a state of constant hyperactivity and anxiety. All of this makes us much more vulnerable to anxiety and other psychological disorders.
It is also important to keep that in mind factors such as bullying during adolescence are in turn a risk factor for future psychological well-being.
The memories of a happy childhood, therefore, constitute a first basis for well-being, but it is equally essential to be able to count on good friends, positive and exciting experiences even during adolescence.
Coping with adversity creates positive memories
Childhood memories don't just come from positive and rewarding experiences. Often even an adverse event and the way we deal with it gives great psychological value. An example of this is a loss.
The death of a loved one or being abandoned by a parent teaches us early to deal with loss and grief. We achieve this with the support of the other parent, our brothers and sisters, uncles, grandparents… Not all childhoods are easy, we know. But sometimes certain dynamics make us stronger and offer us exceptional psychological resources to grow healthily, with courage and hope.
These are opportunities for growth mediated by numerous factors, which equip us with resilience, psychological strength and mental flexibility. Childhood and adolescence can serve as a springboard for our realization, while sometimes presenting wounds, walls, traps in which we remain trapped for a long time.
