Altruism is a selfless act. So why did helping a stranger leave me feeling so foolish?

Helping a hitchhiker should have given me a warm glow of generosity, but ended with me feeling like a gullible shmuck, says Martin love

Being cheerful on the outside can help you – and others – feel it on the inside

Cheerfulness can boost your energy levels, even in tough times – as philosophers and writers have long recognised, writes Donna Ferguson

‘Don’t take it out on our staff!’: How did Britain become so angry?

Shopworkers, GP surgeries and call centres have all reported an alarming rise in abusive behaviour directed toward them. How can we calm this national rage?

My youngest brother is a famous rockstar. I used to worry for him, but now I just feel so proud

We both loved music growing up but when he sent me his demo CD I was afraid he would be mocked. Now Interpol is my favourite band – and we’re the best of friends

Want to stop feeling hurt when someone says no? Take the rejection therapy challenge

It’s easy to inure yourself to fear of rejection, all you have to do is be rejected every single day. By Andrew Lloyd

I’ve learned to say no and not care what other people think: why did it take so long?

Being assertive is hard, especially for an expat in the US. But age and the pandemic have changed all that, writes Guardian columnist Emma Brockes

‘I’m lovingly angry’: Marianne Levy on why mothers are expected to suffer in silence

A new memoir brings humour to the everyday pain of pregnancy and motherhood. By Emma Beddington

When it comes to banter, men are in their element. But that is no foundation for lasting friendship

How lack of intimacy – and effort – can undermine male friendships

A stitch in time: the benefits of teaching prisoners to sew

Learning a craft can change lives – and a scheme showing inmates how to use a needle and thread has had some remarkable results

How I cope with feelings of envy by saying the Arabic word ‘mashallah’

How the phrase ‘what God has willed has happened’ helped me shift feelings of jealousy towards admiration and respect instead, says Yasmina Floyer

Five years ago I felt like a failure as a dad, now I’m sharing with other men how to love their children

After admitting to other Black dads he found parenting difficult, Marvyn Harrison began transforming his relationship with his kids

How much money is needed for ideal life? Most are OK with £8m, study finds

Research counters idea that everyone wants to be as rich as possible, though many Americans want $100bn

‘It’s like the loss happened yesterday’: prolonged grief is now a disorder in the US – so how long is too long to mourn?

Losing a loved one can be life-changing and, for some, debilitating. Could a diagnosis help, or are we medicalising a natural human emotion?

‘I swear I saw faces in the darkness’: can you scare yourself happy?

From a walk in the woods at night to exploring a ghostly derelict building or riding a bloodcurdling rollercoaster, can a dose of fear make you forget your everyday worries?

Dare to share: how revealing your secrets to others can improve your life

It will deepen your connection to your confidante and may improve your situation, says Michael Slepian