Have you ever heard someone say, "Things were so much better back in the day"? It seems like people love to look back on the past and think it was greater than right now. But is that really true? Let's dig a bit deeper.
One big reason we might feel this way is because our brains like to trick us. They make us forget the bad times and only remember the good ones. So, when we look back, we think the past was all sunshine and rainbows. This is what’s called "selective memory". It’s like when you remember your favorite childhood vacations, but forget the part where you got a sunburn or lost your favorite toy.
Another thing is that we’re not big fans of change. Our brains tend to worry that something new might be worse than what we already have. This is called "loss aversion". It makes us feel safer with what we already know, even if it’s not as good as it seems.
But here’s the thing: lots of stuff has actually gotten better over time. For example, in the United States, more people graduate from high school now than ever before. Homes are bigger, and more people own cars. Technology has made life easier in many ways. Also, society has made big strides in equality and rights for different groups of people.
Even globally, life has improved. People live longer, and fewer are living in extreme poverty. More people have access to things like clean water and healthcare. Plus, democracy has spread, meaning more people have a say in how they are governed.
Sure, not everything is perfect today, and some things might have gotten worse. But overall, life has gotten better for many people. So why do so many of us think the past was better? It’s all about how our brains work and how we feel about change.
