To actually feel less cringe, the best move is to reframe the way you think about it. Try treating each cringe-worthy memory as a lesson instead of a punishment. Ask yourself what it taught you, and how that lesson helps you move through your life a little wiser now.
Maybe that awkward thing you said taught you to pause before you speak, or that embarrassing mistake showed you what you actually care about. Whatever it is, giving the memory a purpose takes away a lot of its sting.
At the end of the day, cringe isn’t going anywhere. You’ll probably experience it many times in your life. And honestly that’s okay. You don’t have to conquer it. Letting that hot, squirmy sensation wash over you, without handing it the wheel, is really all it takes.
So the next time a meme makes you physically recoil, take a little comfort in knowing your brain and your heart are working exactly as designed.
