Change and self-development

Painting of a bearded man lying on a wooden bed with a patterned robe, resting his head on his hand, slippers on floor.
MEMORY AND NOSTALGIA

Forgetting in ancient Greece and China

Forgetting things can be frustrating, even frightening. The ancient Greeks certainly thought so. But Daoism offers a different – and more hopeful – perspective

by Sam Dresser

A man with white hair in a suit sitting at the head of an empty boardroom table, facing forward, back toward the camera. Dozens of empty chairs line the outer edges of the room; windows at the rear of the room show trees outside.
WORK AND VOCATION

Don’t fall victim to the Peter Principle

You mustn’t assume that the skills that served you well in the past will be enough for any new challenges that lie ahead

by Christian Jarrett

Medieval painting of a woman at a desk writing with a quill by a window with a sea view and a sailing ship.
CHANGE AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT

How to find inner peace like Saint Teresa of Ávila

The 16th-century ‘spiritual rock-star’ shows how seeing your soul as a castle can be a source of strength and consolation

by Skye C Cleary

A film still of a woman, Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games movie franchise, with a braid standing in a transparent elevator looking out with a thoughtful expression.
FILM

Hollywood’s fixation on the wrong stories won’t help our world

Today’s global problems are caused by broken systems, but the studios still feed us a diet of movies focused on individuals

by Namir Khaliq

A naked young woman walking on a rippled sandy beach towards the sea, clear blue water and distant islands in view.
FREEDOM AND CHOICE

For Lucy, surviving on a remote island was hard, but returning was harder

Directed by Jesper Wachtmeister

Photo of a child squatting in a museum, observing a large classical statue with people around.
EMOTION REGULATION

How to compare yourself with others fairly

Ever worry that you don’t measure up? These CBT-based practices can make social comparison less painful and more productive

by Joel Minden

A woman holds a square mirror that blocks her face; it reflects rocks and grass. There is blue sky and clouds in the background. The only element in focus is the reflection on the mirror.
PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

Losing her eyesight, a painter’s art evolves with the way she sees the world

Directed by Liberty Smith

Illustration of a person in a bathtub, their head covered by vibrant, multicoloured flowers, against a pink-tiled background.
BIPOLAR DISORDER

What’s it like to feel betrayed by your brain? A memoir of bipolar disorder

Directed by Melanie Cura Daball

Photo of a rainy motorway with heavy traffic and a sign warning of a stranded vehicle, speed limit 40 mph.
DECISION-MAKING

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

Photo of three elderly cyclists in racing gear seated indoors at a velodrome in Manchester.
AGEING

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

Outdoorsy woman lies back in a sunny forest on grass and ferns, surrounded by trees with mossy trunks. She shields her face from the sun with an arm.
LIFE STAGES

An ecologist finds an apt metaphor for healing in the rainforests she studies

Directed by Andrew Nadkarni

Photo of two people embracing by a window, with dramatic lighting creating shadows on their faces and the wall.
VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION

How to end a toxic relationship

Worried something is badly off with your relationship? Here’s how to detoxify the dynamics or, if necessary, get out

by Gunnur Karakurt & Rachel Croce

Photo of a tiny grasshopper on a wooden surface with a blurred background, a small purple object is nearby.
EMOTION REGULATION

How to embrace uncertainty

Fearing the unknown is only human. But positive thinking can reduce your unease and help you see welcome opportunities ahead

by Arie Kruglanski

Photo of people in colourful costumes at night outside a neon-lit restaurant.
LIFE STAGES

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

Painting of a child seated at a table with a white cat on a red background. A bowl of fruit is in the foreground.
SLEEP AND DREAMS

How to embrace being a lark or an owl

Skip the advice about training yourself to rise early or burn the midnight oil. Your natural rhythms are your best guide

by Shayla Love