Poiesis
Creativity in all its manifold expressions, exploring the imaginative, artistic and transcendent facets of life

Love
idea
There’s no good reason to love each other – and that’s a relief
Loving is an unreasonable decision (we are all extremely unpleasant little beasts) and that’s what allows it to survive
by John Kaag

Death and dying
idea
Reflections on mortality can help you live well now – here’s how
For me and many others, contemplating death has clarified what matters. These curiosity-based exercises will get you started
by Joanna Ebenstein

Wonder and the sublime
guide
How to think about the sublime
An exquisite mix of fear and awe, pleasure and pain, the sublime stretches the imagination and reveals the limits of reason
by Nicole A Hall

Traditional arts
film
Beauty is woven into everyday life for the quilters of the American West
A film by Carly Jakins and Jared Jakins

Evaluating therapies
idea
In therapy or meditation, is it normal to feel worse at first?
A ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality might make sense when striving for change – but don’t confuse discomfort and distress
by Nicholas Van Dam

Goals and motivation
idea
Here’s how to use your imagination to prepare for any task
From sport to public speaking, the link between mental imagery and actual performance is undeniable – and you can harness it
by Jonathan Rhodes

Meaning and the good life
guide
How to make your life feel more meaningful
Existential psychology offers specific ways to find meaning, giving you a buffer against despair in these anxious times
by Steven Heine

Artists and art history
film
Circles possess a defiant beauty in the abstract works of Howardena Pindell
Directed by César Martínez Barba

Communication and language
idea
Let me open a treasure chest to explain how metaphor works
Once maligned by philosophers, metaphors are a key communication tool for extending the power of literal speech
by Elek Lane

Animals
idea
You can think like an animal by silencing your chattering brain
The desire is partly whimsical, but a brief shapeshift across the taxonomic gulf could help us better empathise with animals
by Bryony Tolhurst

Stories and literature
guide
How to tell a better story
Personal stories have the power to connect, entertain, persuade. Use a pro storyteller’s tips to pick and prepare a great one
by Micaela Blei

Creativity
film
A filmmaker’s never-realised ideas become an exploration of self-doubt
Directed by Cameron Nicoll