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Habits and Motivation
Discover more about the power of your daily habits and how to change them to better serve you and your goals in life.

Relationships and Social Skills
Everything you need to know about relationships, including confidence, social skills, body language, and how to build more positive connections.

Emotional Intelligence
Discover more about your emotions, what function they serve in your life, and how to better respond to your feelings and mood on a daily basis.

Positive and Healthy Thinking
Learn how to improve your thinking, including tools, advice, and exercises from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Positive Psychology.

Meditation and Mindfulness
Discover more about the power of meditation and how to apply mindfulness to your daily life.

Creativity and Problem-Solving
Learn how to be a more creative and innovate thinker with these powerful lessons, tips, and advice backed by psychology and neuroscience.
Newest Articles Here…

Best of 2024: Top Self-Improvement Articles, Worksheets, and Highlights
Celebrate 15 years at The Emotion Machine with our 'Best of 2024' roundup, featuring top articles and worksheets on psychology, ...

Good Will Hunting: A Masterclass in Therapy and Emotional Growth
Take a deep dive into the therapeutic relationship as illustrated in the classic film Good Will Hunting, where a defiant ...

The Will to Improve: Bridging the Gap Between “Talk” and “Action”
Do you have trouble transforming talk → action? Learn about Personal Growth Initiative (PGI) and the essential components behind a ...

Finding Meaning in Virtual Worlds: How Online Gaming and Digital Communities Can Transform Lives
Virtual worlds and online gaming have become a new source of meaning, purpose, and belonging in today's world, especially for ...

The Compliment Sandwich: How to Give Constructive Feedback That Sticks
Want to make your advice and feedback more digestible? Learn how to make a "Compliment Sandwich" to deliver constructive criticism ...

The Power of Sincerity – And How to Stop Hiding Behind Sarcasm and Irony
Modern culture has become dominated by sarcasm, irony, and carefully crafted personas. Sincerity and earnestness have become rare, but still ...

A Lifelong Project: Staying True to Your Mission in a Quick Fix World
In a world that rewards short-term thinking and instant gratification, staying true to a long-term mission is becoming increasingly rare ...

Third Spaces: The Building Blocks of A Healthy Community and Social Life
Third spaces are public, informal gathering spots — like cafes, parks, or community centers — where people can relax, socialize, ...

The Worldbuilding of Inside Out 2: New Emotions, Belief System, and a Sense of Self
"Inside Out 2" introduces new emotions like Anxiety and Envy as Riley navigates the challenges of growing up and forming ...

The Many Faces of Deception: Understanding the Different Types of Lying
Learn how to identify the many types of lying and deception, including overt forms like outright fabrications and gaslighting, to ...

Information Pollution: The Tragedy of the Commons and Well-Poisoning on the Internet
Discover how the internet propagates "information pollution" and how it threatens our collective understanding of facts and truth. Here's how ...

Trader vs. Hero Mindset: Why A Healthy Society Needs Both
Do you see yourself as more of a "trader" or a "hero?" Learn about these two distinct mindsets, and understand ...

Deathbed Motivation: The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying
If you were on your deathbed right now, what would your biggest regrets be? The answer can change the way ...

The Pebble In Your Shoe: Tiny Frustrations That Can Ruin Your Day
The "pebble in your shoe" metaphor perfectly describes how small annoyances can slowly wear you down and ruin your day ...

Paradigm Shifts: A Complete Change in Worldview
Discover the power of paradigm shifts in driving individual and societal transformation, from overcoming cognitive dissonance to fueling scientific revolutions ...

What If: The Power of Hypotheticals and Counterfactual Thinking
Discover the surprising power of counterfactual thinking through "what if" scenarios that boost happiness, drive personal growth, improve decision-making, and ...

The Beggar’s Gift: An Opportunity to Be Good
Find out how the concept of the beggar's gift reframes simple acts of kindness into transformative moments of moral and ...

Intermittent Fasting: The Mind-Body Benefits of Conscious Calorie Restriction
Have you ever tried intermittent fasting? Tap into the power of hunger to supercharge your health, fitness, productivity, and motivation ...

50+ Destructive Patterns That Scream Low Confidence and Insecurity
Low confidence and insecurity can manifest themselves in many big and small ways that often escape our awareness. Here’s a ...

One Must Imagine Sisyphus Happy: Finding Meaning in Eternal Struggle
Learn how to find meaning in life's never-ending uphill battles through the "Myth of Sisyphus" and the existentialist philosophy of ...

The Art of Rejection and Saying No: One of the Most Underrated Social Skills
Learning how to reject people in a direct and polite way is one of the most difficult and underrated social ...

How Aesthetic Chills Boost Feelings of Acceptance, Inspiration, and Meaning
Aesthetic chills or "goosebumps" are a pleasurable sensation that people experience while listening to their favorite music, watching a powerful ...

2024 World Happiness Rankings: USA Falls Out of Top 20, Youngest Hit Hardest
What are the top 20 happiest countries in the world? How do mental health and well-being trends look in the ...

Emotions Are Weakness: 5 Maladaptive Beliefs That Lead to Emotional Dysfunction
Do you see your emotions as a source of strength or weakness? New research shows how maladaptive beliefs about feelings ...

Rumination vs. Savoring: The Neural Dynamics Between Positive and Negative Thinking
Rumination is the cornerstone of depression and anxiety. It's characterized by an excessive replaying of negative thoughts and memories. A ...

Positive Psychology Tools Are Most Effective For Those Who Practice Long-Term
A new study finds that a "Science of Happiness" university course, designed to teach students a variety of happiness hacks, ...

The Domino Effect of Overcoming Your Fears One At A Time
Discover the surprising link between conquering fears and unleashing a domino effect of self-improvement in this groundbreaking study redefining traditional ...

The Narcissistic Culture of “Image” and Excessive Self-Monitoring
In a world obsessed with public image and attention-seeking, learn about the cultural forces propelling society to become more narcissistic ...

The Immovable Mind: Schopenhauer’s Daily Routine For 27 Years
What does the daily life of a legendary philosopher look like? Learn about Arthur Schopenhauer's unique routine that he consistently ...

14 Powerful Genre-Bending Films That Explore Love in Unconventional Ways
Explore the world of love through a variety of lenses. Here's a collection of powerful films that each portray love ...

Love On The Spectrum: Thoughts and Feelings
"Love On The Spectrum" is a reality television show centered on how people with autism view, seek, and find love ...

Social Bonding Through Movies: The Emotional Magic Behind Watching Films Together
Movies can be an excellent social bonding experience in a variety of situations, including first dates, family movie nights, group ...

6 Aspects Of A Balanced Person: A Complete Picture of Well-Being
What are the six aspects of a balanced person? Physical, mental, emotional, social, work/financial, and meaning/spiritual. Learn more about each ...

My Biggest Goal of 2024
Staking my claim on 2024! My big goal for the year: get friend's first novel published by the end of ...

50+ Motivational Latin Proverbs to Elevate Your Thinking to New Levels
Times change but wisdom stays the same. Check out this collection of inspirational Latin proverbs and find one that really ...

6 Common Factors Behind All Successful Therapy
According to "common factors theory," the essence of successful therapy lies in shared core elements, and the differences between therapeutic ...

Best of 2023: Recap, Articles, Worksheets, and the Future
An honest review of 2023, featuring stand-out articles, practical worksheets, and a preview of the near future at The Emotion ...

Past, Present, and Future: Lessons from A Christmas Carol
From ‘Bah, humbug!’ to redemption: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is more than a festive fable – it imparts timeless ...

4 Japanese Concepts That Will Improve Your Well-Being
Embark on a journey to well-being with these four profound Japanese concepts: Ikigai for purpose, Moai for community, Hara Hachi ...

Going Cold Turkey: Breaking Free from the Chains of Unhealthy Behaviors
Ready for a major lifestyle change? Uncover successful strategies when embracing the "cold turkey" approach to break bad habits, making ...

Conflict Resolution: 4 Principles Behind Constructive and Peaceful Negotiation
In a world filled with conflict and hostility, one of the most important skills we can learn in life is ...

Explain Yourself: The Healthy Challenge of Describing Your Beliefs
How effectively can you explain yourself to others? Learn to embrace the healthy challenge of describing your beliefs to sharpen ...

Fresh Starts: How to Use Landmark Dates to Spark a Change
Mondays, birthdays, anniversaries, and new years, we have many opportunities throughout the year to create a fresh start. Learn how ...

Feeling Unloved: The Need to Be Appreciated
We have a vital human need to feel loved and appreciated by others. Discover the profound impact of appreciation on ...

In-Yeon: Exploring “Past Lives” and Eternal Connections
In-Yeon is the powerful idea that every human interaction is meaningful and purposeful in the grand scheme of things. Learn ...

The Big 5 Personality Traits: A Framework for Understanding Our Differences
Dive into the Big 5 Personality Traits to gain a better understanding of human personality and individual differences. Discover how ...

The Gish Gallop Effect: How Rapid Argumentation Distorts Perceptions and Beliefs
Beware the “Gish Gallop” effect, a common persuasive tactic where an individual rapid-fires their talking points without giving anyone a ...

Abandon Your TV: The Mental Benefits of Canceling Your Cable Subscription
Free your mind from the prison of mindless television and learn to live a healthier and saner life by canceling ...

Framing Depression as an Adaptive Signal, Not a Lifelong Disease
Explore how the concept of "adaptive signal" provides a fresh understanding of depression, highlighting its potential role as a meaningful ...

The Evolutionary Drive to Overthrow Bad Leadership
Explore the innate sense of justice and fairness in humans and the preference for leaders who prioritize the well-being of ...