Our modern age is criticised for self-obsession. It can be hard to make an argument for thinking about the self without getting lost in the quagmire of 21st-century vapidity. But the popularity of psychology books is a celebration of something different: therapists are distilling their practice to make readers better equipped to understand... See more

Human beings are purpose-oriented creatures on a deep level, no matter what some hippies will tell you. But the default mode, while helpful for solving problems, can be claustrophobic and stressful, and it limits the scope of what you notice. There is a strong bias towards only, or mostly, seeing things that are relevant to your goals and identity.... See more

Your well-being is not separate from others’ well-being. It’s physiologically intertwined.

Every spiritual tradition has been trying to tell us this. When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” when the Buddha taught metta (loving-kindness) practice, and when the Dalai Lama said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion; if you... See more