Is a friend in need really a friend indeed? Are you? I handed Angela a tissue as another wave of sobbing overcame her, then waited quietly for it to subside. There was nothing I could say. To the outsider, Angela appeared to be perfect. She had beauty, success as an…

This Japanese philosophy can guide us towards happiness and fulfilment — Most of us hope for a long and healthy life. We aspire to wealth and security, along with a satisfying job and happy home life. And when we retire, what then? How many people hang up their work keys with a feeling of emptiness and a sense of being placed…

From Feng Shui to Marie Kondo, harmonious spaces make us feel happier Have you ever walked into a space and felt uncomfortable, but you couldn’t quite put your finger on why? Do you feel unsettled when the dishes stack up in the sink because you’re too busy to get around…

Life’s too short to harbour regrets, or too long to keep replaying them. — Regrets come in many forms, from ‘I wish I hadn’t broken up with my first boyfriend,’ to ‘If only I’d looked again before pulling out from the junction.’ There can be huge life-shattering consequences of our actions or there may be mere inconveniences. …

While the world may seem like it’s falling apart, gardening helps us feel more in control — When my mother died, I gardened. It was the only thing that helped ease the grief. I bought two pyracanthas while we were waiting for the funeral and transported them 300 miles back home. Then I planted them either side of our garden gate. …

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is easy, free and can have an enormous positive impact on our wellbeing. — It all started with a woman called Mary. In the late 1970s, the psychologist Roger Callahan was treating his patient Mary for her deep phobia of water. This wasn’t just a case of just being afraid of swimming. Mary could barely take a shower and even the sight of a glass of water would raise her heart rate.

Giving opens up a magical channel in our lives, both for the giver and the recipient Recently I read a piece in a paper by a woman who felt her life was worthless. Many years before, her long-term partner had duped her and left her bankrupt. To this day, she…

Even a forced smile will magically enhance your endorphins If you could sell it as a health supplement it would look like liquid gold, but it’s actually there within all of us. We only need to bring it out. There’s been an huge amount of research carried out on the…

Our friendships change organically. Isn’t it time to let go? — Every year my old friend, Sophie, comes down to Cornwall where I live, and we meet up. Each time, it’s like a snapshot of how our lives are progressing. How we look a little older — marginally, I hope. Each time the distance between us seems that bit more pronounced. …