Perfectly Awesome

The spotlight effect is one of the most fascinating phenomena of human experience. We explore why it happens and how to overcome it.

Why are we such bad judges of how others see us? Epley’s answer is that other people are novices about us, while we’re experts.“The Green Mirror” (1911) by Guy Rose / Wikicommons Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . There’s the full-body bedroom mirror, the bathroom mirror, and the trusty […]

Narcissism and self-esteem have very different developmental pathways and outcomes.

In a world dominated by video, we know we’d benefit from communicating effortlessly through video content. But many of us struggle with camera confidence. This is because our fear of talking to a camera is deeply rooted in our survival instincts.

New research suggests that body postures can reveal our emotions to other people—and maybe even change how we feel inside.

Setting a rate can be a minefield for folks navigating an industry alone.

In 2002 I was driving to a hedge fund manager's house to hopefully raise money from him. I was two hours late. This was pre-GPS and I had no cell phone. I was totally lost. I kept playing over and over again "Lose Yourself" by Eminem. I was afraid this was my one shot and I was blowing it. I was even crying in my car. I was going broke and I felt this was my one chance. What a loser.

How ignorance and a little ego threat can make us ridiculously over-confident.

Never underestimate the power your own insecurities can generate.

Whether you want to find joy in your body, or just greater self-acceptance, these four strategies from psychologists and activists — and, yes, nudists — might help.

Can ‘confidence-whisperer’ Nate Zinsser help Jamie Waters boost his wavering self-belief?

Can ‘confidence-whisperer’ Nate Zinsser help Jamie Waters boost his wavering self-belief?

You can’t stop people making demands on your time and energy, but you can develop assertiveness skills to protect yourself

When we want people to change, we typically tell them what to do. But what if we flipped the script and asked them for their wisdom instead? Behavioral scientist Katy Milkman PhD explains the power…

These common expressions can cause listeners to think twice.

Five tactics to silence the person trying to make you squirm.

The long read: The troubled times we live in, and the rise of social media, have created an age of endless conflict. Rather than fearing or avoiding disagreement, we need to learn to do it well

Bridge the divide with thoughtful conversation techniques, next-level listening, and a dip into the science of changing minds.

"Unconscious leadership happens when we aren't self-aware, which puts fear in the driver's seat."

How to turn Ignorance into Power

We often undervalue what we inherently do well.

Learning to write is learning to think, because writing is thinking. They are two peas in a powerful pod. This article goes over my writing process, focused on minimizing the activation energy to get started.

The trouble with ignorance is that it feels so much like expertise. A leading researcher on the psychology of human wrongness sets us straight.

We publish articles around emotional education: calm, fulfilment, perspective and self-awareness. | What to Do at Parties If You Hate Small Talk — Read now