If you think about boredom at all, you might consider it trivial – a part of the furniture of life, mostly an affliction of youth, and characterised by the quintessential couch potato. Nothing could ...

Being seen for who you are, both existentially and metaphysically, is a gift that society should strive to bestow on all ...

When you feel low or fed up, it’s tempting to shut down and do very little. You might cancel activities and social events, and choose passive options instead, such as staying in bed or watching TV. It ...

The people most drawn to ideological thinking and authoritarianism aren’t aware of what makes them so susceptible ...

After playing mahjong for an entire day, our retired parents came home glowing with satisfaction. They recounted the specific moves of the game and the thrill of well-executed wins. They were tired, ...

‘Resilience’ has become one of our favourite compliments. People praise resilient children, resilient workers, resilient patients, resilient communities. The word shows up in school mission statements ...

A magazine to help you understand your self and live well ...

You and your friends are out for dinner at an Italian restaurant, and the waiter lists a few specials for you to choose from. You decide on the tagliatelle. Your friend closest to you leans over and ...

The first time police stopped me in the street, I was 14 and on my way to school. Who were my parents, the officer asked. Where did I live? And why was I insisting on wearing a hijab? He pinned me ...

Have you ever had a decent conversation in a lift? If not, join the club – being in a lift with a stranger is a universally awkward experience. One reason is the typical duration of a lift journey – ...

We live in an age full of advice on how to stay focused. And yet, even with so many tips and tricks at hand, many of us still feel dispersed, as if our attention is being siphoned away by forces ...

You’ve probably heard it said that self-control – or what some people think of as willpower – is like a muscle. Use it too much and it gets fatigued, potentially to the point of exhaustion. The idea ...