Bearable Quote by Mignon McLaughlin
“Nostalgia for what we have lost is more bearable than nostalgia for what we have never had”
About This Quote
We find it easier to mourn what we once possessed than to mourn imagined possibilities, because the former is tangible and the latter is abstract.
In simple terms: We grieve real losses more than imagined ones.
Key Takeaway
Focus on appreciating what you have now.
Themes
loss
nostalgia
contentment
imagined futures
Mood
thoughtful
melancholic
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- grieving a past relationship
- missing a career opportunity
- reflecting on lost youth
Key Concepts
psychology
human perception
comparative longing
Questions to Reflect On
- What real loss are you holding onto?
- How can you honor the past while embracing the present?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing the past can prevent present growth.
![“Well, it seems like a miracle to be able to look forward-to-to see all the minutes in front of one come hopping along with something marvellous in them, instead of just[Pg 295] saying, Well, that one didn't actually hurt and the next may be quite bearable if only something beastly doesn't come…” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fc4/dorothy-l-sayers-738_able_well-it-seems-like-a-miracle-to-be-able_244103.jpg)
