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Change and self-development

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Traffic on a rainy motorway with a sign indicating a stranded vehicle and a 40 mph speed limit.

Decision-making

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Why small annoyances can harm us more than big disruptions

A largely forgotten psychological concept helps explain the insidiousness of minor problems – and what to do about it

by Shayla Love

Three senior male cyclists in racing outfits sit on chairs, each wearing a helmet and cycling shoes, resting between races. The cyclist on the left wears a white and light blue kit, the middle one wears a teal and yellow kit, and the cyclist on the right wears a blue and yellow kit.

Ageing

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Rather than fearing getting old, here’s how to embrace it

Whether you are 20 or 90, each moment of life presents an opportunity to focus on what really matters to you

by Berit Lewis

four men in strange fancy dress costumes stand in a fairground at night

Life stages

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Legal definitions aside – what makes you think you’re an adult?

Achieving adult status is a momentous part of life. Our research suggests getting there takes more than years or milestones

by Megan Wright

A close up shot looking down upon the toes and feet of a person balanced on the edge of a jetty over water

Fear and phobia

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To fear well is virtuous and more important than being brave

Fear is not the enemy, but a real and legitimate emotion. To truly support another in their fear, let them give it a voice

by Ami Harbin

Two women dressed in pink and white rabbit outifts drink a beer outside a subway station entrance. One of them looks glum

Personality

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To improve your life, consider changing your personality

New research supports the idea that intentionally developing certain traits is not only possible, but comes with benefits

by Christian Jarrett

A hand holds a small, black-and-white school photograph of a smiling young girl with pigtails wearing a polka-dot dress.

Change and self-development

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What can we learn from those who have a moral change of heart?

Stories of sharp adjustments in moral perspective show the potential of unusual experiences to open people’s minds

by Joshua May

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

Sadness and sorrow

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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

A man in a red jacket jogs near iconic London skyscrapers, including the Gherkin and the Walkie Talkie, on a cloudy day. People walk in the background.

Goals and motivation

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A commitment is different from a goal – here’s why that matters

Whatever your aims in life, the words you use matter. Here’s an important distinction that will help you stay on track

by Justin Kompf

Child wearing a blue gingham school uniform with yellow achievement badges reading “Great Homework,” “Well Done!” and featuring symbols like a star and thumbs up.

Fairness and equality

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Teaching self-confidence can backfire and perpetuate inequality

It’s true that self-confidence is beneficial, but the way in which it’s often taught is misguided and can be harmful

by Eddie Brummelman & Kelly Ziemer

Aerial view of a city with prominent castle in foreground, numerous buildings, and distant hills shrouded in mist under an overcast sky.

Sleep and dreams

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Five ways to take control of your dreams

Lucid dreaming lets you shape your dreamscape, whether your aims are practical or fantastical. These tips can get you started

by Christian Jarrett

A blurred person walks past a large poster of a woman with long blonde hair and glossy lips.

Change and self-development

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The cult of being confident and why it doesn’t help women

By making women solely responsible for their own empowerment, the culture of confidence masks the true causes of inequality

by Rosalind Gill & Shani Orgad

Photo of a rainy car window with a blurred face silhouette inside and colourful lights outside.

Change and self-development

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Personal transformation can start with a whisper, not a bang

To understand personal transformation, we should listen to the incessant whispers in our stream of consciousness

by Jennifer Windt