Eudaimonia

On the perennial puzzle of how to live well in our complex world

Self-knowledge and personal growth Relationships, work and leisure Values and ethical living

People at night in front of St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow with a woman waving a large Russian flag in the foreground.

Conflict and conflict resolution

idea

Does national humiliation explain why wars break out?

For a nation, humiliation isn’t just a feeling – it’s a story. Understanding this can help countries move beyond aggression

by Raamy Majeed

The Sydney city skyline featuring the Opera House under a dramatic dark stormy sky with a sailboat on the water in the foreground.

Difficult emotions

idea

How to understand and cope with mood swings

Sudden mood changes can be unsettling, but getting to know them will help you regain balance and, if needed, find support

by Zindel Segal & Norman Farb

An aeroplane seen in silhouette, flying against a dramatic sunset sky with clouds.

Love

guide

How to make a long-distance relationship work

Whether an hour or an ocean apart, there will be challenges, but this therapist shows how to make the most of the upsides

by Charlie Huntington

Paper collage of a man and a woman lying on the floor petting a grey rabbit and a white cat with a small table in the background.

Mind and brain

film

After a life-altering diagnosis, Case crafts a loving message to his future self

A film by Case Jernigan

Photo of a person silhouetted against the Milky Way galaxy in a starry night sky, with a faint horizon glow.

Wonder and the sublime

idea

The ‘panzoic effect’: the benefits of thinking about alien life

Reflecting on the potential for extraterrestrial life can inspire awe and have a profound effect on your worldview

by Graham Lau

Painting of two weasels playing among trees in a vibrantly coloured landscape.

Communication and language

idea

For this unsung philosopher, metaphors make life an adventure

Susanne K Langer understood the indispensable power of metaphors, which allow us to say new things with old words

by Sue Curry Jansen & Jeff Pooley

A person watering plants in an urban garden with buildings in the background on a cloudy day.

Meaning and the good life

guide

How to make your life feel more meaningful

Existential psychology offers specific ways to find meaning, giving you a buffer against despair in these anxious times

by Steven Heine

Woman in a white dress standing in front of a geometric quilt in a garden setting with trees in the background.

Traditional arts

film

Beauty is woven into everyday life for the quilters of the American West

A film by Carly Jakins and Jared Jakins

Painting of a man in British colonial attire with an Indian child attendant holding a sword, by a tree overlooking a river landscape.

Human rights and justice

idea

True solidarity requires Burke’s ‘sympathetic revenge’

Social media utterances aren’t enough. Burke’s stand against colonial injustice shows we must confront our own complicity

by Jack Jacobs

Photo of a young girl in a classroom holding a book with a calendar page, wearing a floral dress and hair accessories.

Compassion and empathy

idea

How do we start learning to ‘read’ other people’s minds?

Studies of young children give us insight into the building blocks of an ability that most of us use every day

by Josephine Ross & Martin Doherty

Coloured microscopic image of pollen grains and plant fibres in close-up, showing vibrant round and elongated structures.

Food and drink

guide

How to maintain a healthy gut

With a few lifestyle and dietary changes, you can protect your gut microbiome, boost your immunity and improve your mood

by Vincent Ho

Sculpture of a human-like figure made of teal wool reaching towards a wooden chair on a light background.

Change and self-development

film

A wool puppet’s stirring journey from safety into the great unknown

A film by Kobi Vogman