Meaning and the good life

Painting of a man seated at a table next to a skull on books, with a patterned curtain in the background.

How to not fear your death

You exist, but one day you won’t. An Epicurean perspective can help you feel less afraid, and even grateful for life’s finitude

by Sam Dresser

Painting of a man in a bowler hat, seated with a drink and cigarette, gesturing expressively while at a table.

Learning to be a loser: a philosopher’s case for doing nothing

For Emil Cioran, a life devoid of action, practical ambitions and busyness is a life in which room has been made for meaning

by Costica Bradatan

Painting of a man in a top hat sitting on a path with a walking stick, backpack and countryside view in the background.

How to cope with an existential crisis

Has the world gone grey? Are you wondering what life is for? Kierkegaard’s philosophy could help you rediscover your zing

by Skye C Cleary

Abstract painting with colourful overlapping circles and segments creating dynamic patterns and contrasts.

How to craft a harmonious life

Forget the ideal of work/life balance – your needs and interests are much richer than that, and your life can be too

by Jessica de Bloom & Merly Kosenkranius

Photo of three men smiling and holding a large inflatable globe in a room with various boxes and jars.

A life of splendid uselessness is a life well lived

Like the fertile soil of a well-kept garden, a life of splendid, utter uselessness yields abundance beyond our immediate aims

by Joseph M Keegin

Painting of a man relaxing against a large leafy tree in a grassy field.

How to be useless

Follow the Daoist way – reclaim your life and happiness by letting go of the need to produce, strive or serve a purpose

by Helen De Cruz & Pauline Lee

Ancient Greek marble relief of a girl holding doves, displayed on a pedestal, depicting detailed clothing and serene expression.

Sprinkle a little ancient philosophy into your daily routines

Long before the psychology research was in, ancient philosophers knew the importance of spiritual exercise for wellbeing

by Joel Owen

Painting of a man on a leafy balcony with potted plants and German text on the wall below.

For Nietzsche, nihilism goes deeper than ‘life is pointless’

For Friedrich Nietzsche, nihilism is a terrible psychological problem – a coping mechanism with deadly consequences

by Kaitlyn Creasy

Portrait painting of a person in dark clothing with a white collar a gold necklace and rings against a green background.

How to get your mojo back

You’re not depressed but you’re not happy – you’re languishing. Give yourself a boost with these evidence-backed strategies

by Frank Martela

Photo of a person in an elephant costume standing in a tiled indoor area near a mini cab office with signs and posters.

How to be a happy nihilist

Exhausted by the modern pressure to squeeze meaning out of every moment? Here’s a radical way to reset your priorities

by Wendy Syfret

Photo of a glass half full of water on a wooden table with a beige background.

How to appreciate what you have

To better face an imperfect world, try a deeper reflection on the things, people and legacies that make your life possible

by Avram Alpert

Black-and-white photo of hands sculpting a small clay figure with a rough-textured face in an art studio setting.

When Nietzsche said ‘become who you are’, this is what he meant

Behind the philosopher’s cryptic phrase is an invocation to sculpt your ideal self out of the hard stone of your psyche

by Ryan A Bush

Photo of a person kneeling on a barren landscape under a cloudy sky, capturing a sense of isolation and vastness.

Religion gives life meaning. Can anything else take its place?

Religious faith promotes a sense of meaning in life – and it might take more than ‘social glue’ to duplicate the effect

by Michael M Prinzing

Photo of a person playing swingball in an alley with bicycles and a basket on the cobblestone path.
PLAY

The achievement society is burning us out, we need more play

This is about more than a self-help switch – it will take structural changes to reject capitalism’s productivity obsession

by Alec Stubbs

Photo of a single cherry with water droplets and a leaf on a dark background.

How to live like an Epicurean

Forget shallow hedonism. Follow this philosophy for wondrous, unexpected joys and resilience against inevitable misfortune

by Emily Austin

Mosaic depicting a bird in a cage with geometric patterns and swirls in black and white surrounding it.

What’s a life worth living? For the ancients, it depends

What the ancient philosophers thought was a life worth living will likely surprise you. But don’t be too quick to judge

by David Machek