‘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

OurChemist

Our Chemist – Health