Goals and motivation

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

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

idea

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

Photo of a bookstore entrance at night with people walking by and a person reading among book trolleys on the pavement.

The self

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What makes some of us crave self-insight more than others?

Some people have a powerful desire to understand themselves, but their path to self-knowledge is rarely straightforward

by Christoph Heine

Photo of a stone wall beside a sandy beach with calm sea under a cloudy sky sun peeking through a ship on the horizon.

Goals and motivation

guide

How to do mental time travel

Feeling overwhelmed by the present moment? Find a connection to the longer view and a wiser perspective on what matters

by Richard Fisher

A Nigerian ballerina in a white tutu dancing atop yellow minibuses in a crowded urban setting.

Dance

film

Nigeria’s first ballet school brings tutus and joy to the streets of Lagos

Directed by Jacob Krupnick

Illustration of the solar system with planets in order of distance from the Sun on a dark background.

Learning and education

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The ‘secret strategy’ that could boost your ability to learn

It may sound illogical, but growing evidence shows the benefits of testing yourself before you start learning new material

by Ajdina Halilovic

Photo of a cafe interior with a person working on a laptop by a window, open door and street view with bicycle outside.

Goals and motivation

idea

How temptation works, and why it nearly stopped me writing this

Temptation can be sneaky – a rationalising voice that subtly undermines your resolve. But there are ways to outsmart it

by John Schwenkler

Photo of an office viewed through glass showing a woman at a desk, cityscape reflected outside.

Cognitive and behavioural therapies

guide

How to stop living on auto-pilot

Are you going through the motions? Use these therapy techniques to set meaningful goals and build a ‘life worth living’

by Kiki Fehling

Close-up of feet in white trainers near four tennis balls on a blue tennis court, with blurred background of a few people.

Sports and games

film

Passion, agility, invisibility – do you have what it takes to become a ball person?

Directed by Scott Lazer

Black and white photo of two men in overalls standing before large industrial gears, each scratching his head.

Freedom and choice

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Why Charlie Chaplin was an ‘angel of peace’ for Walter Benjamin

Though a tramp and a misfit, Chaplin’s world fit him like a glove. His life of contingency appealed to the émigré Benjamin

by Eli Friedlander

Photo of a woman jogging along a riverside path in an urban area with tall buildings under a partly cloudy sky.

Goals and motivation

idea

So-called ‘SMART goals’ are a case of style over substance

From fitness to finance, the SMART goal-setting method is ubiquitous, but often detrimental. There are better approaches

by Christian Swann

Photo of a footballer lying on a pitch looking distressed with a child nearby holding a ball.

Sports and games

guide

How to be a better loser

As a competitor, you can’t avoid the hurt of losing. But you can learn ways to bounce back stronger and more motivated

by Blakely Low-Scott

Two sumo wrestlers and a referee on a sumo ring during a match, with spectators in the background at the 2019 World Sumo Championships.

Sports and games

film

With a hushed intensity, Tuvsho finds her place in the sumo ring

Directed by George Thomson and Lukas Schrank