The death of my friend inspired me to follow my standup dreams

For one writer, tragedy led to comedy, the sudden loss of a colleague giving her the nudge she needed

Leave the hurt behind! How to let go of a grudge

Resentment is natural when you’ve been wronged, but over time it can become bitter and self-defeating. Psychologists explain how to move on

After becoming obsessed with self-help, I had to heal from ‘healing’

How the writer found her ongoing fixation on self-development was actually working against her

Virtual reality goggles helped me on the path to physical recovery

An unexpected bit of tech opened up a whole new world of possibilities for a frustrated, injured writer

Wild swimming gave me the courage to write my own rules

Out of his depth and determined to defy stereotypes, one writer discovered his sense of self in a bracing cold dip

It’s time to rethink boredom, procrastination and regret

That’s the way to fulfil your goals and have fun in life, writes Simon May

Wallowing in a soup of despair? Try ‘lemonading’ to buck the gloom

Linda Geddes spends a week with a clown, a comic and some toddlers to test the science behind the uplifting power of play

When my daughter’s pregnancy was on the line, it felt like history was repeating itself…

Joanna Moorhead recalls her daughter’s difficult birth as she watches her go through the same thing 32 years later

Seeking Zen at a silent Buddhist retreat comes with its own challenges

It was supposed to be a quiet and peaceful weekend, but it left one writer lost for words

How writing about female cannibals changed my relationship with food

Describing issues of autonomy, femgore, worth and hunger all had an impact on what I wrote and how I felt about myself, says Lucy Rose

The Big Idea: looking for a better life? Follow your nose

Smell has an outsize effect on our thoughts and moods, so it’s worth paying more attention to it

Would you let AI choose your outfits?

Chloë Hamilton explores the possibilities, with surprising results…

‘The two of us book a karaoke room for an hour. It’s like tiramisu for the soul’ What’s on your dopamine menu?

From a ‘starter’ of dishing out compliments to a ‘dessert’ of smashing laptops in rage rooms, scientists and authors share 15 portion-sized ideas for a positivity boost

As an agony aunt, I know the biggest cause of unhappiness: other people. Here’s the secret to better relationships

Looking back through her post bag, Observer Magazine’s Philippa Perry answers her readers most commonly asked question: why are other people so awful?

Music As Medicine by Daniel Levitin review – musician, heal thyself

In this fascinating book, the neuroscientist makes a strong case for the therapeutic force of music, describing ways in which it can be a beneficial part of recovery for patients