Know thyself… by writing your first novel

Dig deep inside, battle self-doubt and become the person you know you can be. Richard Skinner on the healing powers of writing a novel

I was taunted for having two mums in the 1980s

It was a dangerous time but my lesbian parents paved the way, says Lara Lillibridge

How the psychology of the England football team could change your life

England players seem happier and more grounded – and much of the credit goes to psychologist Pippa Grange. What can the team’s approach teach us all about facing fear and failure?

Cats can make you laugh, cry, lose sleep – and then break your heart

She reads to them, watches TV and sleeps with them. Britt Collins on her enduring passion for cats

What’s in my name: tales that cross continents and generations

Stories behind Sheela Banerjee’s name go from Aryan invaders via sacred black stones to 70s dinner ladies

Who rules the world? Narcissists. Let’s stop giving them all the breaks

So, research shows narcissists do life better. The meek among us must keep them in check, says humble Guardian columnist Stuart Heritage

I couldn’t bring myself to read my parents’ love letters for years

Before her mother died, she handed over a shopping bag of private and personal letters sent long ago between her and her father. But what would Sabine Durrant learn about the man who died shortly after she was born?

Inequality breeds stress and anxiety. No wonder so many Britons are suffering

In equal societies, citizens trust each other and contribute to their community. This goes into reverse in countries like ours, say Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, the authors of The Inner Level

Facial awareness: the meaning of a smile

What exactly is a smile for, how do we do it and if we lose it, can we get it back?

When is an exception not an exception?

If ‘just this once’ happens every month, there’s a name for it: a monthly expense