September 14, 2026
A Message from the Editors:
There are moments when the pace of life slows just enough for us to ask the questions we usually push aside. Are we truly showing up for one another? Are we caring for ourselves with the same compassion we hope to extend to others? Are we honest about what disconnects us from meaning, from our bodies, from the natural world, and from the deeper currents of change moving through our time?
This issue of InnerSelf gathers a wide range of voices — scientists, writers, healers, and thinkers — all circling a common human longing: to live more consciously, more honestly, and more fully. Whether the topic is movement, mood, solitude, simplicity, or the slow erosion of trust in knowledge itself, the thread running through every piece is the same invitation. Wake up. Pay attention. Reconnect to yourself, to others, and to what genuinely matters.
We are glad you are here for the journey,
Robert Jennings & Marie T. Russell, InnerSelf.com
Featured This Week
Did We Really Stop Caring?
By Marie T. Russell, InnerSelf.com
In a world that often feels increasingly indifferent, this article asks one of the most important questions of our time — have we truly lost our capacity for care, or has it simply gone underground, waiting to be rediscovered? Marie T. Russell explores the ways compassion gets buried under stress, distraction, and disillusionment, and what it takes to bring it back to the surface.
Read More: Did We Really Stop Caring?
Gloria Steinem and Dolly Parton: Two Roads to the Same Revolution
By Robert Jennings, InnerSelf.com
Two iconic women, two radically different styles, and one shared destination. Robert Jennings traces the parallel paths of Gloria Steinem and Dolly Parton, revealing how confrontation and kindness, activism and artistry, can both serve as vehicles for lasting social change when they spring from the same root of authentic conviction.
Read More: Gloria Steinem and Dolly Parton: Two Roads to the Same Revolution
Slow Jogging and Why Running Slower Might Be the Smartest Move You Make
By Alex Jordan, InnerSelf.com
Counter to everything the fitness culture tells us about pushing harder and going faster, slow jogging offers a gentler, more sustainable path to better health. Alex Jordan breaks down the science behind this approach and explains why slowing down might actually be the most intelligent decision you can make for your long-term wellbeing.
Read More: Slow Jogging and Why Running Slower Might Be the Smartest Move You Make
Feeling Low? Evidence-Backed Ways to Ease Mild Depression Without Antidepressants
By Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
Mild depression affects millions, yet many effective, non-pharmaceutical strategies remain underutilized. Beth McDaniel surveys the research and offers practical, evidence-based approaches — from movement and sleep hygiene to social connection and mindfulness — that can meaningfully lift mood without a prescription.
Read More: Feeling Low? Evidence-Backed Ways to Ease Mild Depression Without Antidepressants
Artificial Intimacy and the Future of Human Connection
By Alex Jordan, InnerSelf.com
As AI companions and digital relationships grow more sophisticated, we are forced to confront profound questions about what intimacy really means. Alex Jordan examines how artificial connection is reshaping our expectations of human relationships and what we may be gaining — or quietly surrendering — in the process.
Read More: Artificial Intimacy and the Future of Human Connection
Why Mosquitoes Like Some People More Than Others and 5 Ways To Protect Yourself
By Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
Have you ever wondered why mosquitoes seem to target certain people relentlessly while leaving others virtually untouched? The answer lies in a fascinating mix of body chemistry, genetics, and behavior. Beth McDaniel explains the science and offers five practical strategies to protect yourself this season.
Read More: Why Mosquitoes Like Some People More Than Others and 5 Ways To Protect Yourself
More From InnerSelf.com
Embracing Change Through Self-Acceptance
By Lawrence Doochin
True and lasting change rarely begins with willpower or discipline alone. Lawrence Doochin makes the case that self-acceptance — seeing and honoring ourselves clearly, without judgment — is actually the ground from which genuine transformation grows. This is a compassionate and grounded guide to becoming who we most want to be.
Read More: Embracing Change Through Self-Acceptance
Is Human Intelligence on the Decline?
By Roger Staff, University of Aberdeen and Lawrence Whalley, University of Aberdeen
After decades of rising IQ scores, some researchers are now detecting a reversal. Roger Staff and Lawrence Whalley examine the data behind this controversial question — what might be driving potential cognitive decline across populations, and what it means for society, education, and the future of human potential.
Read More: Is Human Intelligence on the Decline?
Exploring the Rise of Minimalism and Its Benefits
By Amber Martin-Woodhead
More and more people are choosing to live with less — fewer possessions, simpler spaces, quieter lives. Amber Martin-Woodhead explores the growing minimalism movement, the motivations behind it, and the surprising psychological and practical benefits that emerge when we stop defining ourselves by what we own.
Read More: Exploring the Rise of Minimalism and Its Benefits
Effective Exercise Strategies for Better Eating Habits
By Cassandra J. Lowe, Western University
The relationship between exercise and eating is more nuanced than most fitness advice suggests. Cassandra J. Lowe draws on research to show how the type, timing, and intensity of physical activity can meaningfully influence food choices — and how to use movement as a tool for supporting healthier eating from the inside out.
Read More: Effective Exercise Strategies for Better Eating Habits
Confronting Science Denial in Climate Change Discussions
By Gale Sinatra, University of Southern California and Barbara K. Hofer, Middlebury
When facts are dismissed as opinion and evidence is treated as bias, productive conversation becomes nearly impossible. Gale Sinatra and Barbara K. Hofer dissect the myths that most commonly fuel rejection of climate science, offering both the reasoning behind them and thoughtful ways to respond without deepening division.
Read More: Confronting Science Denial in Climate Change Discussions
The Dangers of Demanding Absolute Certainty in Science
By Paul Frost, Trent University; et al
Science thrives on uncertainty — it is the engine of inquiry, not a flaw. But bad-faith actors have learned to weaponize that uncertainty to paralyze action and delay change. Paul Frost and colleagues explain why demanding absolute proof is itself a form of manipulation, and how to push back with both clarity and confidence.
Read More: The Dangers of Demanding Absolute Certainty in Science
The Neurobiological Benefits of Regular Exercise
By Arash Javanbakht
The benefits of exercise extend far beyond the physical. Arash Javanbakht dives into the neuroscience of movement, explaining how regular physical activity reshapes the brain — strengthening memory, improving emotional regulation, reducing anxiety, and building resilience at the cellular level. Your body was built to move, and your brain knows it.
Read More: The Neurobiological Benefits of Regular Exercise
Exploring the Dual Nature of Boredom
By Wijnand Van Tilburg
Boredom is usually treated as something to be escaped as quickly as possible. But Wijnand Van Tilburg reveals a more complex picture — showing how boredom can serve as a signal, a creative catalyst, and even a moral compass, while also driving some of our least helpful behaviors when left unexamined.
Read More: Exploring the Dual Nature of Boredom
Understanding and Overcoming Phone Anxiety
By Mironov Ilham Sebah
For a growing number of people, the prospect of making or receiving a phone call triggers genuine dread. Mironov Ilham Sebah explores the roots of phone anxiety — from fear of real-time judgment to loss of control over the conversation — and offers compassionate, practical strategies for easing this increasingly common experience.
Read More: Understanding and Overcoming Phone Anxiety
Embracing Darkness for Spiritual Growth
By Laura Aversano
Many spiritual traditions speak of the dark night of the soul as a necessary passage — not a punishment, but a threshold. Laura Aversano invites readers to stop fleeing the difficult interior terrain and instead walk into it with intention, discovering what wisdom and transformation wait in the places we usually avoid.
Read More: Embracing Darkness for Spiritual Growth
Astrology & Cosmic Guidance
Astrological Overview and Forecast:
Sept. 14 to 20, 2026
Pam Younghans
The week of September 14 to 20, 2026 brings a whirlwind of cosmic energy as Venus in Scorpio clashes with Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus, stirring deep emotions, unexpected...
Read more: Pam Younghans' Astrological Overview and Forecast Sept. 14 to 20, 2026
Venus in Scorpio, Sept. 9–Oct. 24, 2026:
Superficial Relationships Won't Be Enough
By Clara Corwin, InnerSelf.com
As Venus moves through the depths of Scorpio, the call is unmistakable: surface-level connections will no longer satisfy. This transit invites us to seek — and offer — genuine emotional honesty in all our relationships. Clara Corwin explores what Venus in Scorpio demands of us and what rewards deeper intimacy and authenticity can bring.
Read More: Superficial Relationships Won't Be Enough: Venus in Scorpio, Sept. 9–Oct. 24, 2026
New Moon in Virgo:
September 10 and 11, 2026
By Clara Corwin, InnerSelf.com
The New Moon in Virgo brings a powerful opportunity to reset routines, clarify intentions, and tend to the practical foundations of daily life. Clara Corwin unpacks the themes of this lunar cycle — discernment, service, and wholeness — and how to work consciously with its energy in the weeks ahead.
Read More: New Moon in Virgo — Sept. 10 and 11, 2026
InnerSelf Horoscope:
Week of Sept. 13-19, 2026
By Clara Corwin, InnerSelf.com
What does the week ahead hold for your sign? Clara Corwin offers her weekly horoscope readings for all twelve signs, bringing the planetary energies of mid-September into focus with practical insights and gentle guidance for navigating the days ahead with awareness and intention.
Read More: InnerSelf Horoscope: Week of Sept. 13 - Sept. 19, 2026
Before You Go
What a rich and searching collection of ideas this week has given us. From the science of slow movement to the philosophy of embracing what is dark within us, from the politics of care to the neuroscience of a healthy brain, each article this week has asked something of us — not just our attention, but our willingness to look honestly at how we are living and whether we might live a little more fully. That is, ultimately, what InnerSelf.com has always been about. Not perfection. Not easy answers. But the genuine, lifelong practice of becoming more aware, more compassionate, and more alive to the possibilities of each day.
Thank you for being part of this community. Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for caring — because despite everything, we all care, And that matters, probably more than any of us know. See you next week.
Robert Jennings and Marie T. Russell
InnerSelf.com
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