InnerSelf Magazine
New Attitudes - New Possibilities
October 12, 2026
This week at InnerSelf...
There is a thread running through the human experience that connects all of us regardless of age, background, or circumstance — the ongoing work of understanding ourselves and one another. We seek to know why we feel the way we feel, why our bodies behave as they do, why relationships can both wound and heal us, and how we might move through uncertainty with greater grace and courage.
This edition of InnerSelf Magazine gathers together writing that honors that very human search. Whether you are exploring the edges of your own personality, trying to make sense of your emotions, tending to your physical health as the years unfold, or learning to trust the quieter inner signals that guide you forward, the work you are doing matters. It is the work of becoming more fully yourself and more genuinely present to others. We are glad to share this journey with you.
Robert Jennings & Marie T. Russell, InnerSelf.com
Featured This Week
Are You a Borderline Narcissist?
By Marie T. Russell, InnerSelf.com
Most of us carry some degree of self-focus, and the line between healthy self-regard and narcissistic behavior is not always clear. This article invites honest self-reflection on where that line falls, and how cultivating genuine self-love differs from self-absorption. Understanding these distinctions can open the door to more authentic relationships and a more grounded sense of who you truly are.
Are Women More Emotionally Intelligent Than Men
By Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
Emotional intelligence shapes the quality of our connections, our resilience under pressure, and our ability to navigate conflict with compassion. Research and cultural conversation have long debated whether women hold an advantage in this arena. This article looks carefully at what the evidence actually shows, challenging assumptions and offering a more nuanced understanding of how emotional skills develop across genders.
How Your Immune System Changes Around 40 and After 60
By Robert Jennings, Innerself.com
The body's defenses do not remain static throughout life. Specific shifts in immune function occur around midlife and again in the sixth decade, with real consequences for how we experience illness, recovery, and overall vitality. Understanding these changes empowers us to take thoughtful, proactive steps in support of long-term health and resilience.
What You Need To Know About Sleep And Circadian Rhythms
By Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
Sleep is not simply rest — it is a precisely timed biological process governed by rhythms that run deeper than most of us realize. When those rhythms fall out of alignment, the effects ripple through mood, cognition, immunity, and longevity. This article provides a clear and practical look at what your body's internal clock is doing and how you can work with it rather than against it.
Navigating Life with Intuition in Uncertain Times
By Jodi Hershey
When external circumstances feel unstable and the path ahead is unclear, cultivating trust in your own inner guidance becomes especially vital. Intuition is not mystical guesswork — it is a form of intelligence that integrates experience, emotion, and perception in ways the analytical mind alone cannot. This piece offers practical wisdom for learning to hear and trust that quieter inner voice.
Harnessing Mind Wandering for Creative Problem Solving
By Carol Kershaw, EdD and Bill Wade, PhD.
We often treat a wandering mind as a problem to be corrected, but emerging understanding of the brain's default mode suggests something more interesting. When the mind drifts, it may actually be doing some of its most creative work. This article explores how to intentionally work with mind wandering as a tool for insight, innovation, and breakthrough thinking.
Embracing Shared Humanity to Overcome Judgment
By Sam Bennett
Judgment — of others and of ourselves — can become a habit so ingrained we barely notice it. Yet beneath every critical impulse lies an opportunity to recognize the common ground we share with all people. This article explores how remembering our shared humanity can soften the harshness of judgment and open us to greater empathy, connection, and inner peace.
More From InnerSelf
Long-Term Use of Finasteride and Erectile Dysfunction
By Marla Paul, Northwestern University
Finasteride is widely prescribed for hair loss and prostate concerns, but new research points to a risk that deserves honest attention. Long-term use of the drug may be associated with persistent sexual side effects, including erectile dysfunction, that continue even after patients stop taking the medication. This article examines the findings and what they mean for informed decision-making.
Understanding Gender Differences in Health and Longevity
By Shervin Assari, University of Michigan
Men and women age differently, and those differences go well beyond the biological. Social roles, stress patterns, healthcare-seeking behavior, and cultural expectations all intersect to shape how long we live and how well we live. This article draws on research to explore the complex web of factors that influence health outcomes across genders.
Understanding Grief Over Losing a Beloved Dog
By Frank T. McAndrew, Knox College
The loss of a dog can be a grief as profound and disorienting as any we face, yet it is often minimized by those around us. Understanding the psychological and neurological basis for the depth of the human-animal bond helps validate what so many people feel but struggle to express. This article offers compassion and clarity for anyone who has loved and lost a canine companion.
How Exercise Protects Your Health Before You Lose a Pound
By Andrew Thomas, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Exercise is often framed primarily as a tool for weight loss, but the health benefits it delivers begin far sooner than the scale reflects. Improvements in cardiovascular function, inflammation levels, blood sugar regulation, and mental health can emerge within days or weeks of beginning regular movement — regardless of weight change. This article reframes exercise as a gift you give your body right now.
Can a Smaller Plate Really Stop You From Overeating?
By Eric Robinson, University of Liverpool
The idea that swapping to a smaller plate can reduce how much we eat has circulated for years, but does the science actually support it? This article takes an honest look at the research, separating what the evidence confirms from what remains wishful thinking, and offers a more complete picture of the environmental and psychological factors that truly drive how much we consume.
The Intelligence Behind Swearing: A Deeper Look
By Richard Stephens, Keele University
Swearing is almost universally stigmatized as a sign of poor vocabulary or low intelligence — but the research tells a quite different story. Studies suggest that people who swear fluently often possess larger vocabularies and stronger verbal dexterity overall. This article digs into what the science of swearing actually reveals about language, emotion, and the human mind.
Overcoming Fear to Find Peace in the Present Moment
By Jude Bijou, M.A., M.F.T.
Fear has a way of pulling us out of the present and into imagined futures that may never arrive. Yet the present moment — however imperfect — is almost always more manageable than the fears our minds construct around it. This article offers grounded, compassionate tools for releasing fear's grip and returning to the ease that exists within the here and now.
Astrology & Cosmic Guidance
Pam Younghans' Astrological Overview and Forecast
October 12 - 18, 2026
By Pam Younghans
Each week, Pam shares her knowledge, understanding, and insights about the coming week's planetary changes. Her interpretation of the energies can help guide you through the challenges of life. Also accompanied by a video version of the article.
InnerSelf Weekly Horoscope October 11 - October 17, 2026
By Clara Corwin, InnerSelf.com
The week ahead carries an energy that invites both reflection and renewed clarity. As planetary influences shift through the middle of October, each sign may find opportunities to reassess priorities, deepen communication, and move toward decisions that have been waiting for the right moment. Check your sign for the specific guidance that applies to your path this week.
Before You Go
We are grateful you chose to spend a little time with us today. The questions explored in this issue — about who we are, how we care for ourselves and others, what our bodies need, and how we find our way through uncertainty — are questions worth returning to again and again throughout a lifetime. There are no final answers, only the ongoing practice of showing up with curiosity and kindness toward yourself and the world around you.
If something you read today moved you, challenged you, or gave you something useful to carry into your week, we hope you will share it with someone who might benefit. And if you have not yet subscribed to our newsletter, we warmly invite you to join our community.
Until next time — be well, be kind to yourself, and keep growing.
Robert Jennings and Marie T. Russell
InnerSelf Magazine
© 2026 InnerSelf Magazine — innerself.com
