13 Hilarious Pics From People’s ‘Blunder Years’ That’ll Forever Live Online As A Cringy Reminder

In search of our identity, we sometimes make decisions that later in life we aren't particularly proud of.

But instead of burying them in the past, the subreddit 'Blunder Years' invites people to embrace all the regrettable fashion choices, cringe-inducing hairstyles, and just their "personal brand" in general.

We at Bored Panda agree that finding humor in our idiosyncrasies is a refreshing and liberating approach, so we put together a collection of the most popular recent posts from this wholesome online community.

May they serve as an inspiration for self-discovery and acceptance.

13 PHOTOS

#1 2008 Senior Photo In The Cemetery With My 1976 Cadillac

#2 2006 And I Was 17. The Cure Was My Life

Clinical psychologist David John Hallford, who is also a senior lecturer at Deakin University, Australia, says that according to current thinking, there are two ways in which we recall experiences from our past.

"One way is purposeful and voluntary," he writes in The Conversation. "For example, if you try to remember what you did at work yesterday, or what you had for lunch last Saturday. This involves a deliberate and effortful process during which we search for the memory in our minds."

"The second way is unintended and spontaneous. These are memories that just seem to 'pop' into our minds and can even be unwanted or intrusive."

#3 First Time Mom Let Me Dress Myself For Picture Day

#4 2004 In 6th Grade. My Best Friend Wanted A Pic Of Her Crush, So We Devised A Plan For Her To Pretend To Take One Of Me As He Walked Past. It Was A Success!

#5 Glamour Shots Photo From 1994. I Was 8 Years Old (Going On 45 In This Pic)

However, if you too are sometimes struck with sudden flashbacks from your blunder years, don't worry. Hallford says that involuntary memories are usually more negative than their voluntary counterparts, and negative memories also tend to have a stronger emotional tone than positive ones.

"Humans are more motivated to avoid bad outcomes, bad situations, and bad definitions of ourselves than to seek out good ones. This is likely due to the pressing need for survival in the world: physically, mentally, and socially," the psychologist explains.

#6 When I Thought It Would Be Classy To Wear A Victorian Suit To Prom ~2010

#7 When Someone Asks How Your Life Is Going…

#8 My Wife permitted Me To Share This Picture Of Her From The Early 90s. She's The One On The Left

#9 Me In The 80s. Sadly, The Coolest I Ever Looked

For the most part, this is all fine, and we are usually able to remember our past and experience the emotions that come with it without too much distress. But it may happen for some people more than others, and with stronger feelings, too.

"One clue as to why comes from research on mood-congruent memory. This is the tendency to be more likely to recall memories which are consistent with our current mood," Hallford says. "So, if you’re feeling sad, well, you're more likely to recall memories related to disappointments, loss, or shame. Feeling anxious or bad about yourself? You're more likely to recall times when you felt scared or unsure."

#10 Sophomore Prom Sporting My Hot Topic Best Waiting For My Boyfriend's Mom's Minivan

#11 Senior Year Photo (2010)

#12 Are We Doing Goth Prom Photos? Here's Me In 2007. I Made The Dress Myself, As The Cheap Shiny Satin Does Suggest

#13 Thinking I Was The Coolest 12y/O Cuz I Could Play The Saxophone

The good news is that memories are very adaptable! "When we recall a memory we can elaborate on it and change our thoughts, feelings, and appraisals of past experiences," Hallford points out.

During a process referred to as reconsolidation, changes can be made so the next time that memory is recalled it is different to what it once was and has a new emotional tone.