We spend our lives looking for contentment – but is it even possible? Understanding what satisfaction is and how we should respond when we feel as though it’s slipping away can help us navigate a path to greater happiness. I didn’t think my life would turn out like this,” 39-year-old Maggie said. “I should have…
In the effort to ‘have it all’, many of us are burning out trying to live up to our own and society’s expectations. But there are ways to take off that superhero cape and regain some balance, and it begins with saying no to perfection. I hate going to dinner at my friend Fiona’s place…
The pathway to a family can be an emotional roller coaster for those who experience difficulties becoming pregnant. But there are techniques to help you cope with this uncontrollable hurdle. “When are you going to have children?” It’s an innocuous question for some, but others may be surprised at the intensity of their emotional response…
While statistics confirm that most resolutions will never be kept, a few simple techniques may improve your chances of success. Oscar Wilde once wrote, ‘A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.’ And while statistics confirm that most resolutions will never be kept, new research shows that a…
Embracing the powerful link between our minds and our physical health can help alleviate chronic conditions and improve overall wellness, research reveals. If you were experiencing abdominal pain, diarrhoea and bloating, would you go to see a psychologist? My guess is that you would tend to visit your general practitioner for such symptoms. However, if…
Feeling good is about more than just slapping on a smile and saying everything is all right. In fact, experts in the field of positive psychology suggest the key to a life well lived is actively engaging with both the good and the bad. Recently, a friend sought out my advice to clarify a confusing…
When it comes to relationships, experts say it’s the way you resolve your conflicts that can mean the difference between divorce and happily ever after. I have a friend who is a jeweller. She gets many requests from couples to make engagement or wedding rings and often finds that, even after meeting the couple for…
As the old adage goes – what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Experiencing a traumatic event can feel like the end, but it can be a chance to start a new chapter. Imagine you are going about your day-to-day life, perhaps at the supermarket, at the shops or at work, when one of the…
Learning to accept emotional distress rather than telling yourself to harden up and get over it can help you cope with life’s ups and downs. On holiday in Oxford, I was making sedate progress down the Isis river in a punt. My brother, a lawyer, was propelling the boat forward with a pole while I…
Following fad diets can be a losing battle for people intent on shedding kilos. We are all familiar with the evidence that proves the latest diet is a winner. A photo of an overweight person in baggy clothes looking glum next to another picture of them at a more healthy weight looking well-groomed and happy.…