Happiness
![Close-up of a Renaissance painting showing a man’s face with curly hair, detailed skin texture, and a thoughtful expression against a dark background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/29626a9b-0595-4104-b7c3-406d50a3359e/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Emotion regulation
idea
Asking one simple question can entirely change how you feel
Positive and negative emotions respond differently to ‘affect labelling’ – the act of giving a name to your feelings
by Christian Waugh
![Smiling woman wearing a blue headscarf looks to the side, with a black background and colourful patterned clothing.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/c56da9a8-0825-4737-80bc-a06dcc0278ff/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Neuroscience
idea
The fascinating science of pleasure goes way beyond dopamine
Pleasure and happiness are too important for our mental health to be reduced to the single brain chemical dopamine
by Dean Burnett
![Blurry photo of two kids smiling and laughing closely together with another child partially visible behind them.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/c1544b9c-4e96-41b6-a73f-42620b453d49/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Laughter and comedy
guide
How to laugh more
You don’t have to wait to be amused, there are ways to train yourself to enjoy the ‘cheap medicine’ of laughter every day
by Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky
![Animation of a girl in a red cap sitting in a tree, with a fox below and vibrant plants and mushrooms surrounding them.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/14bdf0a6-7862-4b15-9484-a582e0aaaeaa/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Happiness
film
Martha’s adventures through the washing machine looking-glass
Directed by Hannah Jacobs
![Two women dressed in pink and white rabbit outifts drink a beer outside a subway station entrance. One of them looks glum](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/fa0c2e25-daf3-41bb-9ee1-c0590de812a8/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
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 woman with long blonde hair and a striped blue and yellow jumper takes a selfie, smiling broadly. Behind her, a living room is visible with a large potted plant, a grey couch, and wall shelves with small plants and decor items. A clock is fixed on the wall in the background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/a23ed02d-10de-488d-bcda-70e52b7ebc84/rt-final-gettyimages-1489498321.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Emotions
idea
What makes ‘toxic positivity’ different from a healthy attitude
Influencers and self-help gurus are preaching a form of positive psychology that risks doing more harm than good
by Lucas Dixon
![Person in an elephant costume standing inside a building near a mini cab office with signs advertising licensed minicabs.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/9677846f-7dbd-423a-b695-223bab19f7e0/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Meaning and the good life
guide
How to be a happy nihilist
Exhausted by the modern pressure to squeeze meaning out of every moment? Here’s a radical way to reset your priorities
by Wendy Syfret
![Graphic silhouettes of people in various vibrant colours, walking side by side against a black background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/23b72005-e8a2-4952-a81e-2048a14a3d25/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Emotions
film
Chance street encounters cascade into a kaleidoscope of emotions
Directed by Lucette Braune
![A smiling family hold hands and play on a sunny beach with their retriever dog](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/dcbfb911-9080-41f6-845c-130997818bdc/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Happiness
idea
As a psychiatrist, I’ve seen how chasing happiness leads to misery
My clinical work has shown me that happiness is a ghost that’s not worth pursuing – there are far wiser goals in life
by Rafa Euba
![Person sitting on an outdoor bench with a large map obscuring their face. They wear colourful, patterned trousers and hold a striped bag. Sunlight and shadows cover the ground. Three people walk past a white building with multiple windows in the background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/eb9d7d6c-83ff-4cd0-8092-01c743396f34/rt-rtsg7iy.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Thinking and intelligence
idea
A love for thinking brings benefits way beyond school and work
Having a passion for mental effort – a trait that’s distinct from being intelligent – has some wide-ranging upsides
by Josephine Zerna
![Person roller-skating by the seaside, wearing protective gear and balancing on one foot, with a balustrade, palm tree, and sunny sky in the background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/758e2319-74e0-475b-afc3-8f820c7cc8b7/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Happiness
film
There’s transcendence in skating – just ask the man they call ‘Slomo’
Directed by Josh Izenberg