The Meaning of Happiness
How do we describe what it means to be happy? In this extract from ‘The Book of Human Emotions’, cultural historian Tiffany Watt Smith charts how the definition of happiness…
Living with less for Spiritual gain
Can throwing out possessions make you happy? Some professional declutterers garner millions of followers online and preach the satisfaction of a pared-down environment. Kate Wilkinson finds this is nothing new…
Chemical highs and Psychedelic Research
Some believe psychedelic drugs could be the fast track to happiness – and new mental health research seems to suggest these compounds do have positive effects. Kate Wilkinson tracks down…
Religion and Mental Health
As a young person, Jamila Pereira relied on her religion to console her and the people in her church to support her. But during the most difficult time of her…
How can I stop Overthinking Everything?
Deep thinkers, people who are prone to anxiety or low mood, and those who are feel emotions deeply are also more likely to overthink. By Dr. Kirsty RossAssociate Professor and Senior Clinical PsychologistMassey University Introduction As…
Beyond Spirituality: the role of Meditation in Mental Health
Meditation has traditionally been associated with Eastern mysticism but science is beginning to show that cultivating a “heightened” state of consciousness can have a major impact on our brain. By Jonathan KrygierPhD Canditate…
The Problem with Mindfulness
Mindfulness aligns itself with science and academia to be seen as credible but it lacks any real evidence. By Dr. Masoumeh Sara RahmaniLecturer in the Study of ReligionTe Herenga Waka — Victoria University…
How Stories Bring us Together
Ours is an age of contagious anxiety. We can feel overwhelmed by the events around us, by injustice, by suffering, by an endless feeling of crisis. In ‘How to Stay…
How hip-hop can save your Mental Health
Hip-hop might seem like an unlikely go-to genre for those struggling with their mental health, but many people find the lyrics resonate with their lives. A rapper and the two…
Chronic Illness and the Pressure to get well
When she was ill, Naomi Morris assumed she was on a straightforward journey from sickness to health. That’s what all the personal essays and celebrity memoirs about recovery promised. But…
