Some days we forget. We forget how loved we are. We forget the moments that made us proud.
We forget the days we laughed until our stomach hurt. And it’s not because those moments didn’t happen. Psychology shows that our brains have a negativity bias, meaning painful experiences stick longer than joyful ones. Over time, our minds can begin to tell us a story that life has mostly been difficult, even when joy has been present all along.

In this week’s episode of The Mid Week Tease, Adelle shares a practice she calls The Life Box. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a physical box filled with small objects that hold memories of love, joy, pride, and meaningful moments. Inside her life box are things like:
• Letters from friends
• A birthday card from her mum from when she turned 10
• Receipts from favorite solo trips
• Bicycle tour receipts from one of her favorite activities
• A memory card filled with career highlights she’s proud of
• And even memes that made her laugh during different seasons of life It’s a small box, but it holds powerful reminders of a life that has contained joy.

In this episode, Adelle explores the psychology behind why practices like this matter, including:
• Negativity bias, why our brains remember pain more strongly than joy
• Savoring, a positive psychology practice that helps us re-experience joyful memories
• Attachment theory, how reminders of love help regulate our nervous system
• Why creating a personal archive of joyful moments can support emotional resilience

She also shares simple ways you can create your own version of a life box, including:
• A joy folder on your phone
• A memory jar
• A gratitude or joy journal
• A voice note archive for your future self
• A digital highlight reel of moments that made you proud Because sometimes what we need most is evidence. Evidence that we have been loved. Evidence that joy has visited our lives before. Evidence that beautiful moments have already happened, and will happen again.

Join the Legally Clueless Africa community:
Newsletter: www.legallycluelessafrica.com/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/legallycluelessafrica/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@legallycluelessafrica
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/LegallyCluelessYoutube
Share your story on the Legally Clueless podcast:
forms.gle/kMn7Wae5N563JFGQ8