Happiness

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

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Renaissance painting of a man with curly hair wearing a dark hat and clothing against a dark background.

Emotion regulation

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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

Photo of a smiling person in vibrant attire and a large blue head wrap against a dark background.

Neuroscience

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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 close-up photo of two kids smiling and laughing closely together with another child partially visible behind them.

Laughter and comedy

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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.

Happiness

film

Martha’s adventures through the washing machine looking-glass

Directed by Hannah Jacobs

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.

Emotions

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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

Personality

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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

Person in an elephant costume standing inside a building near a mini cab office with signs advertising licensed minicabs.

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

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.

Happiness

film

There’s transcendence in skating – just ask the man they call ‘Slomo’

Directed by Josh Izenberg

A smiling family hold hands and play on a sunny beach with their retriever dog

Happiness

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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.

Thinking and intelligence

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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

Graphic silhouettes of people in various vibrant colours, walking side by side against a black background.

Emotions

film

Chance street encounters cascade into a kaleidoscope of emotions

Directed by Lucette Braune