The self

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

Medieval painting of a woman writing by a window with a ship on the sea outside, wearing a dark gown and hood.

Change and self-development

idea

How to find inner peace like Saint Teresa of Ávila

The 16th-century ‘spiritual rock-star’ shows how seeing your soul as a castle can be a source of strength and consolation

by Skye C Cleary

Blurry photo of a supermarket interior with people shopping, bright lighting and shelves filled with products.

Mind and brain

idea

Having epileptic seizures gave me newfound respect for the brain

Seizures are often described as both terrifying and enthralling. Mine gave me a wondrous new take on consciousness and agency

by Webb Wright

A yellow shirt on a hanger by a door with sunlight streaming in through a window in the background.

Work and vocation

guide

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

Sculpture of a human-like figure made of teal wool reaching towards a wooden chair on a light background.

Change and self-development

film

A wool puppet’s stirring journey from safety into the great unknown

A film by Kobi Vogman

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

A child sitting at a desk with a cat, sunlight casting patterns through a window.

Psychoanalysis and the unconscious

guide

Three ways to get in touch with your Shadow self

Jung believed we all have a Shadow self. Facing up to it could help you live more fully and be more forgiving of others

by Ruth Williams

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

Various hats displayed on stands in a shop window with a blurred street scene and bicycle outside.

Identity

guide

You have multiple ‘social identities’ – here’s how to manage them

As social beings, our identities are bound up with different groups – here’s how to juggle all the various hats you wear

by Anna K Zinn

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