Many people view nostalgia negatively — in the 17th century, it was considered a demonic neurological disorder, cited The New York Times. While this may no longer be the case, people still can’t be sure if it’s beneficial to recall certain memories. That’s where ASAP Science comes in.

The duo looked back on the science and found nostalgia “directly counteracts loneliness, boredom, and anxiety.” People who feel nostalgic are also more generous, increase their mental performance, and literally feel physically warm. What’s more is people in cold environments are more likely to experience nostalgia.

“[This] suggests that nostalgia had some evolutionary advantage for our ancestors, which blows my mind,” Mitchell Moffit, one part of ASAP Science, explained. “By evoking positive memories, the human body can create a physical sense of comfort, at least subjectively. If this is true, it’s an incredibly complex adaption for humans, whether it helped us look for food longer or push through pain.”

Nostalgia can bring back pain and make you miss the past, Moffit added, but science does suggest it’s worth inducing as a way to reflect on how meaningful life is. One of the best ways to do so is to put on sad music.

The sad music helps us empathize with the singer, a German study found. Other than empathy, sad songs can “create a space for reflection and reappraisal of personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings.”

So if you’re wondering whether or not to forget the past, don’t. ASAP Science concludes, “revisiting it from time to time can make a better future.”