Compassion and empathy

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

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Photo of yellow taxis on Brooklyn Bridge with New York City skyline in the background on a cloudy day.

Decision-making

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The mathematical case against blaming people for their misfortune

Complexity science reveals the hard limits of our predictive abilities, and makes a mathematical case for compassion

by David Kinney

Photo of a cobblestone street with colourful buildings and a red car. People are walking and talking on a sunny day.

Fairness and equality

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What is a minimally good life and are you prepared to live it?

Would you be willing to swap your life with that of the least fortunate person in your society? A philosophical test for justice

by Nicole Hassoun

Photo of two women in front of a wall mural showing men reading newspapers, with a construction worker nearby.

Communication and language

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How to have more meaningful conversations

Be brave enough to share, kind enough to listen, and you can escape the shallows of small talk to dive deep with another

by Lucy Foulkes

Illustration of a person in a purple shirt sitting at a table with a yellow mug, receiving a supportive hand on theirs.

Compassion and empathy

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How one man saved 160 lives with an extended hand and a warm cup of tea

Directed by Alec Green and Finbar Watson

Photo of a man playing guitar in a sunlit room with wooden walls a stool with plants nearby and a view outside the window.

Compassion and empathy

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Self-compassion is not self-indulgence: here’s how to try it

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not self-indulgent to practise self-compassion. In fact, it helps you to care for others

by Christina Chwyl

Black and white photo of two policemen, a man in dark clothing, and a priest standing in a dimly lit setting.

Virtues and vices

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Are people with dark personality traits more likely to succeed?

Turn towards the light: contrary to popular belief, nice guys have more success and happiness in the long run

by Craig Neumann & Scott Barry Kaufman

Painting of two people sitting at a table with blurred green foliage in the background, one person resting their head.

Friendship

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How to support a struggling friend

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to say or do. Use these five strategies for providing effective emotional support

by Elise Kalokerinos

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

Creativity

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

Directed by Cameron Nicoll

Photo of a solemn woman seen through glass, reflecting urban lights.

Goals and motivation

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Eight ways to give yourself a pep talk when you feel stuck

All of us could do with more words of encouragement and perspective, and they don’t need to come from another person

by Rachel Goldsmith Turow

Photo of a person standing by a mountain lake with a bench nearby, surrounded by lush green mountains under a clear sky.

Compassion and empathy

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Empathy is, at heart, an aesthetic appreciation of the other

Empathy is an aesthetic practice that relies on our capacity to delight in, and respond with reverence to, the world around us

by Susan Lanzoni

Expressionist painting of two figures; one in a striped robe with a pipe, the other seated in a dress, both vibrant colours.

Conflict and conflict resolution

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How to have a difficult conversation

Avoidance will only foster more conflict. Aim for a shared understanding with these techniques from an expert mediator

by Adar Cohen