looks back
Reviews the past
Looks back means to turn one's gaze toward something behind, or figuratively, to reflect on the past.
She looks back on her childhood fondly.
He never looks back—always focused on what's ahead.
A look back is a retrospective glance or review: a look back at the decade's biggest moments.
Enjoyably recalling the past
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
- sentimentalityExcessive tender emotion
homesickness · golden days · halcyon · bygone · sepia · bittersweet · melancholy · rose-tinted
Guilt for wrongdoing
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- ruefulnessSorrowful regret
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
self-reproach · repentance · hindsight · second-guessing · what-ifs · missed opportunities · lament · wishing
Thinking deeply about
- ponderingThinking deeply about something
- musingReflective contemplation
- reviewingExamining something again
- reassessingEvaluating again after reconsideration
reconsidering · reexamining · weighing · evaluating · mulling over · brooding · ruminating · meditating
Stored past experiences
- recollectionRecalled mental image
- flashbackInvoluntary past memory
- memoirWritten personal recollection
- reminiscenceRecalling past experiences
chronicle · archives · keepsakes · mementos · photographs · anniversary · commemoration · memorial
Scrutiny of one's thoughts
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- self-reflectionExamining one's own mind
- self-analysisScrutinizing one's own psyche
- inner dialogueSilent conversation with oneself
self-awareness · self-questioning · self-discovery · self-understanding · taking stock · personal growth · lessons learned · hindsight
reminiscing
Enjoyably recalling the past
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
sentimentality · homesickness · golden days · halcyon · bygone · sepia · bittersweet · melancholy · rose-tinted · fond memories
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- ruefulnessSorrowful regret
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
shame · self-reproach · repentance · hindsight · second-guessing · what-ifs · missed opportunities · lament · wishing · dwelling
contemplating
Thinking deeply about
- ponderingThinking deeply about something
- musingReflective contemplation
- reviewingExamining something again
reassessing · reconsidering · reexamining · weighing · evaluating · mulling over · brooding · ruminating · meditating · processing
memories
Stored past experiences
- recollectionRecalled mental image
- flashbackInvoluntary past memory
- memoirWritten personal recollection
reminiscence · chronicle · archives · keepsakes · mementos · photographs · anniversary · commemoration · memorial · tribute
self-examination
Scrutiny of one's thoughts
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- self-reflectionExamining one's own mind
- self-analysisScrutinizing one's own psyche
inner dialogue · self-awareness · self-questioning · self-discovery · self-understanding · taking stock · personal growth · lessons learned · hindsight · wisdom
looks backlooks ahead
Considers future possibilities
anticipates · envisions · forecasts · forward-looking · eyes front
looks backmoves on
Stops dwelling, advances
lets go · forgets · moves forward · releases · leaves behind
look, looks, looked, looking, looker, lookers, outlook, outlooks, overlook