Self-knowledge and personal growth

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

Photo of a patient in surgery with head stabilised by a frame; medical staff holding instruments in the background.

Freedom and choice

idea

What removing large chunks of brain taught me about selfhood

I’ve cut brains in half, excised tumours – even removed entire lobes. The illusion of the self and free will survives it all

by Theodore H Schwartz

A joyful athlete wearing a gold medal holds his hands to his cheeks standing in front of an Olympic rings background.

Goals and motivation

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Here’s how to use your imagination to prepare for any task

From sport to public speaking, the link between mental imagery and actual performance is undeniable – and you can harness it

by Jonathan Rhodes

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

Illustration of two female anthropomorphic bears in a romantic embrace sitting on a window sill, with trees in the background and a red bird beside them.

Sex and sexuality

film

Sweet illustrations capture women’s stories of first-time queer attraction

A film by Diane Obomsawin

Painting of a woman with large eyes wearing dark clothes surrounded by bold colours including red and yellow.

Grief

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The loss remains, so why does intense grief usually fade?

Grief’s ‘double vision’ beholds both the bereaved and dead. Recognising this duality helps explain our ability to move on

by Berislav Marušić

A blurred black cat jumps on dirt ground in the foreground, with a distant statue of Pope John Paul II with arms outstretched against the sky in the background

Values and beliefs

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Cultural taboos arise from a basic feature of the human mind

Unquestioned community rules on marriage, dining and even black cats often stem from our hunger to explain random events

by Kevin (Ze) Hong

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

A naked young woman walking on a rippled sandy beach towards the sea, clear blue water and distant islands in view.

Freedom and choice

film

For Lucy, surviving on a remote island was hard, but returning was harder

Directed by Jesper Wachtmeister

Painting with surreal figures including a fish-headed person and abstract human forms with a dark sky.

Communication and language

idea

Let me open a treasure chest to explain how metaphor works

Once maligned by philosophers, metaphors are a key communication tool for extending the power of literal speech

by Elek Lane

Photo of a red taxi with passengers in an urban setting, a sign saying “Life is War” visible in the background.

Freedom and choice

idea

Relationships are important, but so is feeling free to end them

Comparing ‘relational mobility’ and people’s average happiness across different cultures reveals some intriguing patterns

by Thomas Talhelm & Liuqing Wei

Photo of a child squatting in a museum, observing a large classical statue with people around.

Emotion regulation

guide

How to compare yourself with others fairly

Ever worry that you don’t measure up? These CBT-based practices can make social comparison less painful and more productive

by Joel Minden

Close-up of hands holding clear frogspawn with visible black eggs in a natural outdoor setting.

Creativity

film

A filmmaker’s never-realised ideas become an exploration of self-doubt

Directed by Cameron Nicoll