The self

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

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A barber with a colourful tattoo using a clipper and comb to cut a customer’s hair in a barbershop.

The self

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When your authenticity is an act, something’s gone wrong

Authenticity has changed from an inward gaze to a social display. Can we reconcile the performance with the real thing?

by Joseph E Davis

A man kneels by a child on a tricycle feeding seagulls near a beach with a cloudy sky in the background.

History and philosophy of mental health

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For Donald Winnicott, the psyche is not inside us but between us

For Donald Winnicott, your psyche isn’t just in your head – it emerges from your relationships with others and the world

by James Barnes

Person sitting on grass, sketching in a notebook with a pen.

Emerging therapies

guide

How to get to know all (the parts) of you

An emerging form of psychotherapy offers some surprising ways to think about who you are and work towards self-acceptance

by Derek 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

A wet pavement reflecting the shadow of a person holding an umbrella and nearby lights on a rainy day.

Personality disorders

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Some people feel so utterly alone it’s as if they don’t exist

People diagnosed with ‘avoidant personality disorder’ fear getting close to other people, yet crave greater connection

by Kristine Dahl Sørensen & Marit Råbu

Photo of a man sitting on a porch playing a guitar. He is wearing jeans and a blue shirt. There is a small table with a plant nearby.

Compassion and empathy

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Self-compassion is not self-indulgence: here’s how to try it

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not self-indulgent to practise self-compassion. In fact, it helps you to care for others

by Christina Chwyl

Person reading a book at a table with a yellow tote bag and iced coffee. The background is blurred.

Love

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How to enjoy being single

‘Happily ever after’ is a romantic myth. Defy society’s singlism and discover ways to embrace a joyful, independent life

by David Robson

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

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

Directed by Michael Gill

Painting of large trees with exposed roots in a verdant forest, a wooden fence and a distant cabin partially obscured by foliage in the background.

Imagination

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Aphantasia can be a gift to philosophers and critics like me

Aphantasia veils the past and the future from the mind’s eye. That can be a gift to philosophers like Derek Parfit and me

by Mette Leonard Høeg

People sitting and walking through a city square on a sunny day, with a red brick building and large advertising posters covering other buildings.

Stories and literature

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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

Person wearing colourful striped socks, laying next to a sleeping cat on a cosy blanket, with a window in the background.

Change and self-development

guide

How to be kinder to yourself

Self-compassion techniques aren’t self-indulgent – they’ll tame your inner critic while helping you change for the better

by Brooke Schwartz

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