Change and self-development

Articles, Films and practical Guides on change and self-development, part of Psyche’s coverage of self-knowledge and personal growth.

Photo of a woman with long hair, eyes closed in a field of wildflowers and greenery, creating a serene and natural setting.

How meditation can boost your brain’s capacity to adapt

Video by BBC News

Photo of a person leaning back with hands on head at a desk, laptop open, with feet up on the desk, green background.

How to think differently about procrastination

Avoid the trap of thinking you’re either working or not. A different mindset promises less self-judgment and more progress

by Rebecca Roache

A cyclist in a red jacket on a winding rural road surrounded by autumnal trees with misty hills in the background.

MEANING AND THE GOOD LIFE

Your purpose isn’t something to find, it’s something you form

In my therapy office, I’ve found that to live with greater purpose, we must think differently about where it comes from

by Ross White

Rikers Island sign on a building with a speedboat on the river in the foreground.

FOOD AND DRINK

Loafing around at Rikers

What making – and breaking – bread in jail taught me about work and friendship

by Jamie Valentino

A dimly lit street with parked cars at night. A building has a large, vertical “HOTEL” sign illuminated.

DECISION-MAKING

For maximisers, bad choices really sting

We all make wrong decisions, but if you’re a ‘maximiser’ rather than a ‘satisficer’, the regret hurts all the more

by Richard Fisher

A man in silhouette standing against a reflective surface in an empty room with cityscape visible through large windows.

INTEGRATIVE THERAPY

How to stop your life playing on repeat

Those frustrating patterns you keep experiencing might be because of your schemas – and there’s a therapy that can help

by Gemma Gladstone

A bustling food stall at dusk with bright signs advertising burgers, curly fries and sausages against a darkening sky.

GOALS AND MOTIVATION

The Ozempic era should change how we think about self-control

Struggling to manage weight can seem like a failure of raw willpower. GLP-1 drugs highlight how misguided that view is

by Matthew C Haug

A blue bowl with quinoa, chickpeas, chopped onions, greens and a wooden spoon on a dark background.

FOOD AND DRINK

How to adventure beyond the same old foods

Most of us develop comfort zones with food. Expand your palate and discover new flavours, techniques and connections

by Nina Mukerjee Furstenau

Photo of an elderly man speaking at a podium with a microphone onstage, wearing a dark suit and glasses.

CREATIVITY

James Earl Jones reads Kurt Vonnegut on why art is central to a meaningful life

Video by Letters Live

Photo of two women in a kitchen, one peeling a potato while smiling the other focused on cooking, with a mortar in view.

HAPPINESS

We’re naturally bad at predicting what will make us happy. Here’s how to adjust

Video by The Well

People in a small, well-lit Japanese restaurant or bar, with a menu on the wall and beverages on the counter.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

A little Japanese trick for saying ‘no’

If an outright refusal feels rude but you don’t want to have to explain, here’s how to say ‘no’ the Japanese way

by Richard Fisher

Illustration of two stylised people running on a boardwalk near the sea with telegraph poles and wires in the background.

GOALS AND MOTIVATION

How increasing short-term pleasure can help you achieve your long-term goals

Video by TED-Ed

A woman and a man converse while seated on chairs in a room with plants. A decorative table with glasses is between them.

EMERGING THERAPIES

The critic inside your head has something important to tell you. Here’s how to listen

Video by Esther Perel

Close-up photo of an elderly man with a beard wearing a black cap, lying in a hospital bed, looking content.

CHANGE AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT

After four decades in prison, Big D contemplates the brave new world that awaits him

Directed by Laura Tejero Núñez

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 can be frustrating, even scary. The ancient Greeks certainly thought so. But Daoism offers a more hopeful view

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