‘An experiment in ritual humiliation’: would a month of rejection therapy make me fearless?

In theory, approaching strangers with bizarre requests, destined to be refused, makes you a better person. But can soul-crushing embarrassment really strengthen your character?

Sport isn’t only about winning – it has lessons to teach us about life

Fixating on results can make us miserable, as some of the top sports stars have discovered. It’s the intrinsic joy of what we do that brings the best rewards

Many of us have been raised with unrelenting standards. We need radical acceptance

Assuming we are all doing the best we can might free us up to feel gentler, kinder and more compassionate to ourselves – and others

The big idea: is being ‘good enough’ better than perfection?

Before making another new year resolution it’s worth asking if change is what you need

By sleeping when everyone else is awake I cured my insomnia

Turning normal sleeping cycles upside down helped this bestselling writer recover her energy

‘Afterwards I would feel blissful’: how exercise convinced a psychotherapist to become a personal trainer

Therapists and gyms are working both brain and body as the full benefits of fitness are increasingly recognised

My drag persona gave me a way to exist in the world – and a route back to the family I’d lost

For years, Ginger Johnson imagined life as a tragedy playing out – until she decided to reframe it as a comedy

Just say no: 13 ways to get out of everything – from extra work to Christmas parties

Do you yearn to set strong boundaries, but are scuppered by a lifelong tendency to people-please? Here is how to stop now

I drove across the US to meet people I disagree with – and learned how to look beyond labels

As a progressive, queer, Asian-American, I held stereotypical views about people on ‘the other side’. My tour helped me realise that curiosity is a potent force for understanding

Punch a pillow, hug your pet, write to your MP: 22 ways to deal with your anger

From simmering frustration at minor annoyances to boiling rage at the state of the world, many of us are angry at the moment. Experts offer tips and techniques on how to manage it

I used to be a huge people pleaser, but when I became seriously ill I finally learned to say no

After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, I stopped trying to please everyone else. Now I have better relationships and a healthy, joyful life

The buddy boost: how ‘accountability partners’ make you healthy, happy and more successful

The idea of a friend who helps you commit to your goals is growing in popularity – whether you want to get fit, write a novel or build your business

I didn’t fit in Wales, but found my sense of place by understanding its history, and my own

I stood out as different in Llandudno but by learning about its past and mine, it became the home I love

My brother the political prisoner, by Sanaa Seif

I was just his little sister, now I’m trying to free him from an Egyptian prison. By Sanaa Seif

The openness of talking to strangers – and the intimate stories they share

The stories people tell me about their lives can be funny, surprising, tragic or shocking – and some stay with me for years