“There would be something very, very empty and meaningless about [a] sort of life with no problems.”

Language is a huge part of human development, even the language we keep to ourselves. Three experts explain how words and beliefs can change our brains and our lives:

A physician, a psychologist, and a mindfulness teacher explain what stress does to your body and mind, and how to use it to get smarter and stronger.

Modern culture has made us feel like there’s no time to be patient. Sarah Schnitker’s lab at Baylor University is researching how this often-forgotten virtue could improve our overall well-being.

“There's research showing that people who are curious, who ask questions, are not just happier, they're not just more successful, they also live longer.”

Everything you experience is filtered through your brain, and everyone’s brain is different. Neuroscientist Christof Koch explains how understanding this can deepen your connection to the world around you.

“A lot of the trends in the economy, in family life have just been much harder for working class men.”

A neuroscientist, a psychologist, and a psychotherapist discuss how emotions are stories built from old experiences.

“If you ask a computer, it will say, most of the time you want to either be raising or folding, right? You want to take an aggressive action or quit. I think this is a great metaphor for lots of things in real life, too.”

Many of us rely on emotional advice that doesn’t actually work. Psychologist Ethan Kross offers a smarter, science-backed approach to managing emotions with flexibility and perspective.

“The public really doesn't realize that they are much closer to CIA spies than they think they are.”

“Invention matters, but implementation matters more.”