Every now and then, I find myself drifting back to childhood memories. Often this will happen when I have been in a state of stress.
The smell of freshly cut grass, fish and chips, the sound of kids playing on the street, the feeling of safety in the simplicity of a long-forgotten time.
Why do our minds take us back there?
From a neuroscience perspective, this is linked to the brain’s default mode network (DMN), the system active when we’re not focused on the outside world, often during daydreaming or reflection.
The DMN helps us process our identity, emotions, and memories.
When life feels uncertain or overwhelming, the brain instinctively revisits familiar, comforting experiences to restore emotional balance.
Childhood memories are stored in the hippocampus, a region tied to long-term memory and emotional regulation.
These memories often carry strong emotional weight, and revisiting them can activate the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine, which helps us feel safe and soothed.
These moments can help us remember who we were before the world told us who to be.
For me, these memories are grounding. They remind me of the values I grew up with, the resilience I didn’t know I had, and the dreams that still play in the background.
So, if you find yourself thinking about your childhood lately, don’t dismiss it. Lean into it.
There might be something there you need to remember or reclaim.
What’s one childhood memory that still brings you peace?
Let’s talk!
Childhood Memories.