The self

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

Photo of a patient in surgery with head stabilised by a frame; medical staff holding instruments in the background.

Freedom and choice

idea

What removing large chunks of brain taught me about selfhood

I’ve cut brains in half, excised tumours – even removed entire lobes. The illusion of the self and free will survives it all

by Theodore H Schwartz

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

The self

idea

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 person stirring food in a stainless steel pot on a stovetop with steam rising, kitchen in the background.

Emerging therapies

guide

How to use cooking as a form of therapy

No matter your culinary skills, spend some reflective time in the kitchen to nourish and renew your sense of self

by Charlotte Hastings

Silhouette of a person climbing a steep, diagonal staircase against a gradient sky in grayscale.

Dance

film

A darkly playful dance of shadows, surreal visions and transformation

Directed by Douglas Bernardt

Photo of people in a sunny square with bikes and scooters, near Les Tontons and a large building advertisement in Bordeaux.

Stories and literature

idea

Your life is not a story: why narrative thinking holds you back

Our stories help us make sense of a chaotic world, but they can be harmful and restrictive. There’s a liberating alternative

by Karen Simecek

Photo of a quaint bookshop with a green facade and display window filled with books, a person entering via a side door.

Place

idea

‘Place authenticity’ is an important, overlooked part of life

From indie bookshops to artisan cafes, spending time in unique, characterful places can enrich your own sense of self

by Ashley Krause

A black-and-white photo of a man using a megaphone over the sea with ships in the distance.

Communication and language

guide

How to find your voice

Do you sometimes feel silenced or afraid to speak up? Learn to use your natural voice and be heard for who you really are

by Sophie Scott

A dark room with a table, chair, bookshelves, and numerous faint, ghostly figures sketched on furniture, walls, and floor.

The nature of reality

film

An animated figure’s world grows enigmatic when he begins to doubt reality

Directed by Jeong Dahee

Photo of a yellow shirt on a hanger in front of a door with someone holding it in a sunlit room.

Work and vocation

idea

Six ways to use clothes to boost your confidence at work

Regardless of your budget or fashion sense, dressing with more intention can benefit your mindset and performance

by Dahlia Stroud

Black and white drawing of stylised smoke or clouds rising from the ground in swirling patterns.

The self

idea

Why bad doodles can reveal more about you than good drawings

For Marion Milner, ‘not being able’ is a valuable state – one that allows for new and unexpected forms of learning

by David Russell

Photo of two women on a bus or train, one in focus looking back, the other blurred in the foreground, with teal interior tones.

The self

guide

How to connect with your future self

Does the future ‘you’ seem like a stranger? Getting to know them better will help you to make healthier, wiser decisions

by Shayla Love

Black-and-white photo of a man in a suit who is Giacometti sculpting a thin figure, surrounded by small sculpted busts, in a studio with textured walls.

Painting and sculpture

film

Stretched between dignity and despair, Giacometti’s fragile human figures

Directed by Michael Gill