The self

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

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

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

Photo of a tattooed barber trimming a man’s hair in a striped cape, with a reflection in the mirror.

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

Photo of a person sitting on grass sketching in a notebook, showing their hands and feet in a relaxed outdoor setting.

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

Photo of a man and child seated in a stroller on a beach path surrounded by seagulls with the ocean 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

Photo of a wet pavement reflecting a person’s silhouette and orange 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 person reading a book at a cafe table with a yellow bag and iced coffee, seen through a window.

Love

guide

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

film

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

Directed by Michael Gill

Photo of a man playing guitar in a sunlit room with wooden walls a stool with plants nearby and a view outside the window.

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

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

The self

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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 wearing colourful striped socks and a sleeping tabby cat on a bed by a window with blue curtains.

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