Change and self-development

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

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Traffic on a rainy motorway with a sign indicating a stranded vehicle and a 40 mph speed limit.

Decision-making

idea

Why small annoyances can harm us more than big disruptions

A largely forgotten psychological concept helps explain the insidiousness of minor problems – and what to do about it

by Shayla Love

Three senior male cyclists in racing outfits sit on chairs, each wearing a helmet and cycling shoes, resting between races. The cyclist on the left wears a white and light blue kit, the middle one wears a teal and yellow kit, and the cyclist on the right wears a blue and yellow kit.

Ageing

idea

Rather than fearing getting old, here’s how to embrace it

Whether you are 20 or 90, each moment of life presents an opportunity to focus on what really matters to you

by Berit Lewis

A man hugs his son in the light of a sunny day coming through a window in a darkened room

Violence and aggression

guide

How to end a toxic relationship

Worried something is badly off with your relationship? Here’s how to detoxify the dynamics or, if necessary, get out

by Gunnur Karakurt & Rachel Croce

Illustration of a person in a bathtub, their head covered by vibrant, multicoloured flowers, against a pink-tiled background.

Bipolar disorder

film

What’s it like to feel betrayed by your brain? A memoir of bipolar disorder

Directed by Melanie Cura Daball

four men in strange fancy dress costumes stand in a fairground at night

Life stages

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Legal definitions aside – what makes you think you’re an adult?

Achieving adult status is a momentous part of life. Our research suggests getting there takes more than years or milestones

by Megan Wright

A close up shot looking down upon the toes and feet of a person balanced on the edge of a jetty over water

Fear and phobia

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To fear well is virtuous and more important than being brave

Fear is not the enemy, but a real and legitimate emotion. To truly support another in their fear, let them give it a voice

by Ami Harbin

A small grasshopper perched on a wooden surface with a soft-focus background.

Emotion regulation

guide

How to embrace uncertainty

Fearing the unknown is only human. But positive thinking can reduce your unease and help you see welcome opportunities ahead

by Arie Kruglanski

Outdoorsy woman lies back in a sunny forest on grass and ferns, surrounded by trees with mossy trunks. She shields her face from the sun with an arm.

Life stages

film

An ecologist finds an apt metaphor for healing in the rainforests she studies

Directed by Andrew Nadkarni

Personality

idea

To improve your life, consider changing your personality

New research supports the idea that intentionally developing certain traits is not only possible, but comes with benefits

by Christian Jarrett

A hand holds a small, black-and-white school photograph of a smiling young girl with pigtails wearing a polka-dot dress.

Change and self-development

idea

What can we learn from those who have a moral change of heart?

Stories of sharp adjustments in moral perspective show the potential of unusual experiences to open people’s minds

by Joshua May

A painting of a person in green and a white cat sitting at a round table with a plate of fish and some flowers, set against a reddish background.

Sleep and dreams

guide

How to embrace being a lark or an owl

Skip the advice about training yourself to rise early or burn the midnight oil. Your natural rhythms are your best guide

by Shayla Love

Abstract artwork of a disjointed figure composed of beige organic shapes and red geometric forms, creating a fragmented, surreal appearance.

The body and physical health

film

A wildly imaginative exploration of what movement means to someone without it

Directed by Mathieu Labaye