Photo of two people standing in a purple haze between large columns in a vast, ethereal space.
ARCHITECTURE

In the bustle of the city, we need more pockets of serenity

Stillness shouldn’t be something you only find in nature. Well-designed urban spaces can be good for the nervous system, too

by Zsanett Ritli

A woman stands in a patch of sunlight in a room with stacked chairs and windows framed by curtains.
IDENTITY

How cultural outsiders cope with the pain of feeling different

In therapy with people from immigrant families, I’ve seen the side effects of adaptation – and what it takes to break free

by Dennis Portnoy

WISDOM
1

How to find your InnSæi

In uncertain times, an Icelandic concept can help you reconnect with your intuition and follow your inner compass

by Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir

Ideas

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FOCUS AND ATTENTION
8

No, willpower isn’t a muscle – here’s a better way to think of it

by Alberto De Luca

Black and white photo of a person with long hair reflected in glass talking on a mobile phone in an urban setting.
LOVE
3

Why being ghosted is inevitable and being a ghoster is too

by Dominic Pettman

Guides

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COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION

How to build team spirit

The glue, or spirit, that binds certain teams is not mystical – you can cultivate it by changing how you work together

by Leigh Thompson

A yellow removal van viewed from a window, partially open with furniture and boxes inside on a residential street.
CHANGE AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT

How to cope with disruptive change

You can’t stop life from throwing changes your way, big and small. But you can get a lot better at dealing with them

by David A Clark

Life stories

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Illustration of a smiling man with long hair, wearing a shirt, with a scenic background featuring buildings and people meditating.
MEANING AND THE GOOD LIFE
2

‘We are all always coming and going’

Steve Schwartzberg’s journey from Harvard psychologist to erotic healer, Buddhist and teacher was always haunted by death. Then he was diagnosed with terminal cancer

by Andrew Lawler

Editor’s picks

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EMERGING THERAPIES
24

How to get to know all (the parts) of you

An emerging form of psychotherapy offers some surprising ways to think about who you are and work towards self-acceptance

by Derek Scott

Black and white photo of a woman and child sitting outside a rustic cabin in a desert landscape under a cloudy sky.
SOCIAL HISTORY

Bunkerised society – why prepping for end times is so American

Millions are preparing for doomsday, not together, but by closing the hatch. It’s a logical response to a hollowed-out state

by Robert Kirsch & Emily Ray

Latest videos

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GENDER

What’s a girl to do about leg hair? A playful exploration

Directed by Andrea Dorfman

A man with dreadlocks smiling, holding a microphone on stage with his other arm raised under blue stage lights.
MUSIC

How Bobby McFerrin draws out mesmerising music from any audience

Photo of a person with long hair and glasses driving a car gesturing to someone outside through an open window.
PERSONALITY

A no-nonsense New York driving instructor’s rules of the road

Pointillist painting of a vibrant tree with colourful foliage and textured background in a natural setting.
MIND AND BRAIN

Perception is a process of inference, not an account of ‘reality’

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MIND AND BRAIN

How meditation can boost your brain’s capacity to adapt

Notes to self

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Popular

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

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

Black and white photo of a person reflected in a window with motion blur and trees visible outside.
MIND AND BRAIN
5

What your mind’s blank moments reveal about consciousness

Scientists are uncovering the nature of an elusive mental experience that challenges what it means to be conscious

by Thomas Andrillon

Close-up video of a bicycle gear cassette with chain in movement, showing detailed metal texture and mechanical design.
FOCUS AND ATTENTION
8

No, willpower isn’t a muscle – here’s a better way to think of it

The muscle metaphor based on ego-depletion theory hasn’t survived scrutiny. But there’s an alternative that holds promise

by Alberto De Luca

A yellow removal van viewed from a window, partially open with furniture and boxes inside on a residential street.
CHANGE AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT

How to cope with disruptive change

You can’t stop life from throwing changes your way, big and small. But you can get a lot better at dealing with them

by David A Clark

Pointillist painting of a vibrant tree with colourful foliage and textured background in a natural setting.
MIND AND BRAIN
4

Perception is a process of inference, not an account of ‘reality’

Video by Aeon

Black and white photo of a person with long hair reflected in glass talking on a mobile phone in an urban setting.
LOVE
3

Why being ghosted is inevitable and being a ghoster is too

Being ghosted can feel shocking. But we need to get used to it because there’s no other way to cope with our world

by Dominic Pettman

A city street with reflections on a window showing cars, people and a grocery sign with a Coca-Cola advertisement.
THINKERS AND THEORIES

Heidegger knew that we are always outside, weathering the storms

We aren’t safe inside separate minds. Being-in-the-world means we’re entangled and vulnerable – and that’s how we flourish

by Katherine Withy

WISDOM
1

How to find your InnSæi

In uncertain times, an Icelandic concept can help you reconnect with your intuition and follow your inner compass

by Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir

Explore: Friendship

Photo of a man holding a microphone and equipment standing on a walkway with blurred people passing by in the foreground.
LONELINESS
1

Lonely in London, a filmmaker sets out to make a new friend

A film by Hugh Clegg

A bearded person gently cradling a newborn wrapped in a patterned blanket by a window in soft light.
EMOTIONS

Why kama muta is an emotion worth seeking

by Hannah Seo

Two puppets in silver spacesuits lie against a starry backdrop, surrounded by makeup items. One puppet has short black hair, the other has bright green hair.
FRIENDSHIP

Fatu treks into the glamorous unknown during his first outing in makeup

Directed by Iiti Yli-Harja

Four women outside wearing summer outfits with skyscrapers and a construction crane in the background; one woman is shown smoking.
FRIENDSHIP
14

Is it wrong to be good friends with a bad person?

by Yiran Hua

Three girls dancing in a bedroom; one on a bed in blue outfit, others on the floor wearing casual clothes. The room has pink curtains and a blue lamp.
LIFE STAGES

A nostalgic ode to being 15, fearless and in love with the world

Directed by Celia Willis

Medieval manuscript illustration of three figures talking: a man, a knight with a shield and a shovel-bearer, set in an ornate border.
FRIENDSHIP

How the nature of friendship has changed through the centuries

by Bénedicte Sère

Three people chatting at a rustic bar in a pub, with a brick interior and various decorations.
FRIENDSHIP

Our relationships, in five dimensions

by Matt Huston