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Journalism of Courage
Kriti Sanon and Nikhil Kamath delved into a thought-provoking conversation about the ‘attic theory,’ a concept that touches upon the deep recesses of our childhood memories, in an episode of the latter’s podcast — ‘WTF is with Nikhil Kamath’.
Kamath shared a particularly personal insight. He said, “I went for a session yesterday, my therapist… the task, my homework for the day was, ‘find a picture of yourself when you were 6-7 years old, something like that and stare at it for five minutes every day. Because she feels that I have forgotten so much, and so much of who we are today is formed in that 5-15 age.”
This practice is intended to reconnect him with a part of himself that often gets lost in the complexities of adult life.
Sanon agreed, adding, “But you do forget and I feel sometimes it’s like memory is full and now it’s deleting stuff.”
Kamath quickly noted that this is called the “attic theory”. “So your brain is like an attic… when you put something new you’ve got to take something out,” he said.
Gurleen Baruah, occupational psychologist and executive coach at That Culture Thing, says, “The ‘attic theory,’ inspired by Sherlock Holmes, suggests that the human mind is like an attic with limited space. Just as a workshop owner has to be careful about what tools and materials they keep in their attic, we should be mindful of what information we store in our brains. The idea is that if we fill our minds with too much unnecessary information, it can crowd out the useful stuff or make it harder to find when we need it.”
While the theory simplifies how the brain works, she says, it touches on some real psychological concepts. “For instance, our brains do have a limited capacity for processing information at any given time. If we try to take in too much at once, it can lead to mental overload, making it harder to learn new things or remember important details.”
In therapy, this idea is often applied to help people focus on what’s truly important. For example, in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), therapists work with individuals to identify and focus on thoughts and beliefs that are helpful, while letting go of negative or unhelpful patterns. It’s like clearing out the clutter in your mental attic to make space for more positive, constructive thoughts.
According to Baruah, revisiting childhood memories can be a powerful tool for understanding yourself better, but its effectiveness varies depending on your personality, emotional state, and how ready you are to face those memories.
“The ‘attic theory’ offers a useful metaphor for this process, comparing your mind to an attic that holds all your memories, experiences, and emotions. Over time, this mental attic fills up, and revisiting it can help you see how your past has shaped who you are today, potentially leading to healing and personal growth,” she tells indianexpress.com.
“Begin by setting aside a specific, limited time each day — maybe just 5 to 10 minutes, to reflect on a particular memory or aspect of your past. Think of it as opening a small corner of your mental attic rather than throwing open the doors and diving into everything at once,” says Baruah.
When you revisit a memory, she adds, try to focus on what you can learn from it rather than just dwelling on the emotions it brings up. This approach aligns with the attic theory’s idea of being selective about what you keep in your mental space. By focusing on growth and learning, you prevent yourself from getting stuck in the past.
Writing down your reflections can be a powerful way to process memories without becoming overwhelmed. Journaling allows you to organise your thoughts and feelings, much like how you might organise items in a physical attic.
Finally, Baruah suggests, avoid getting too caught up in nostalgia, balance your reflection practice with mindfulness and present-moment awareness. After spending time revisiting a memory, take a few moments to ground yourself in the present.
