Resilience and flexibility

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

Abstract painting featuring interwoven, tangled figures surrounded by dark, swirling shapes and lines, evoking chaos and entanglement.

Sadness and sorrow

idea

When emotions rot, they compost and transform into something new

A self that fractures through loss or grief marks a psychological shift, beginning a cycle of regrowth through decomposition

by Kelsey Day

Forearm tattoo in cursive script reads “Remember to fall in love” in black ink.

Emotion regulation

idea

Wish you had more self-control? You should hear the downsides

Many people wish they had the advantages of more self-control. But fewer know that the trait can be costly, too

by Samantha Lapka & Franki Kung

Black-and-white photograph of a solitary tree bent by strong wind in an empty field with a foggy, overcast sky and faint fence posts.

Resilience and flexibility

guide

How to be resilient

Life is unpredictable. Brace yourself with a suite of coping mechanisms, internal and external, then deploy them flexibly

by Selda Koydemir

Abstract blue figures in a dark room; some sitting around tables with candles, others standing or sitting on a bar counter. The image signifies a lively, crowded bar during a power outage.

Community

film

When the lights went out and the city came together over two days in Toronto

Directed by Sharron Mirsky

Photo of three people in winter coats standing on a snowy path with bare trees in the background.

Resilience and flexibility

idea

What the distinctive brains of resilient people can teach us

Resilient people have brains that are distinct in their structure and function, providing clues for how to build resilience

by Laura Moreno-López

Photo of two empty swings by a lake, cordoned off with yellow caution tape against a cloudy sky.

Humanistic and existential therapy

idea

Existential psychotherapy helped my students cope with chaos

By facing the terrifying truths of existence, we become stronger, more resilient and more able to take control of our lives

by Ronald Chau

Commuters rush past a stationary commuter train. In the train window is reflected the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Worry and rumination

guide

How to thrive amid ‘imposter syndrome’

Worries that you’re incompetent and undeserving could be holding you back. Try these steps to move toward the life you want

by Jill Stoddard

People in an airport terminal, some carrying luggage and looking up at departure boards. Busy environment with natural light from large windows.

Resilience and flexibility

idea

Why some people are at higher risk of ‘stress contagion’

Our stress levels don’t rise and fall in isolation. Grasping the social side of stress could help us manage it better

by Shihan Li

People of varying ages queue before a temporary table in a church. Food is being handed out to them

Compassion and empathy

idea

Many of us have the wrong idea about poverty and toughness

The ‘thick skin bias’ obscures the reality of hardship. We should check our assumptions about those who are struggling

by Nathan Cheek

Ancient elongated humanoid statue with a minimalist design and folded arms, carved from a reddish stone, against a grey background.

Communication and language

guide

How to say no

It’s a little word, but if you’re a chronic people pleaser it can be so tricky to say it. These tips and tricks will help

by Shayla Love