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Whenever you’re anxious, sad or overwhelmed or simply need some soothing, it helps to have a collection of comforting and healthy tools to turn to. Self-soothing refers to behaviours that we use to restore our emotional equilibrium when we’ve experienced stress or anxiety. Whether it is conflict with a partner, having a bad day at work, or general anxiety about…

The last few (and first few) weeks of the year tend to be packed with non-stop activities. Although this is an often stressful time, it is also one filled with joy and happiness at being surrounded by loved ones. We can sometimes continue the over-indulging into the new year or on the other side of the coin perhaps feel a…

Connecting with grown-up children can be difficult. As children grow up, they can become disconnected from parents due to distance, changes in lifestyles and schedules, or simply them growing into adulthood, and the nature of the relationship changing. Although cell phones and texting have made sharing information inexpensive, easy and more immediate, these methods of communication can sometimes be the…

Emotional intelligence or EI/EQ describes a person's ability to recognize emotions, to understand their powerful effect, and to use that information to guide thinking and behaviour and influence that of others. Emotional Intelligence is absolutely essential in the formation, development, maintenance, and enhancement of close personal relationships. Unlike IQ, which does not change significantly over a lifetime, our EQ can evolve and…

There are four primary attachment styles that can influence everything from your romantic relationships and friendships, to how you interact with your boss or lead a team. Research on adult attachment is guided by the assumption that the same motivational system that gives rise to the close emotional bond between parents and their children is responsible for the bond that develops in…

Worries, doubts, and anxieties are a normal part of life. It’s natural to worry about an upcoming job interview, a big performance or a first date. It can in fact be helpful when it spurs you to take action or to solve a problem. “Normal” worry, however, becomes a problem when you’re preoccupied with “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios persistently…

  For most of recorded history, people married for logical reasons: because it made sense economically to our families, or because it would help business or trade, or even survival! We very rarely marry for these reasons anymore, with most of us being much more drawn to the freedom of choosing our own partner, and the concepts of romance, falling…

What is compassion and what is its purpose? The definition of compassion is the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feel motivated to relieve it. Although it is often confused with empathy or altruism, compassion is different, because it has the added element of having a desire to alleviate or reduce the suffering of another or…

As you read this article, take a second to think about the state of your home. Do you wish it were more organised, tidy, clean, de-cluttered? Having recently read Marie Kondo’s best-selling book ‘the life-changing magic of tidying up’ I thought I would share with you the science behind organisation, and practical tips towards a healthier home! The positive psychology behind organisation…

With so many of us going into the new year with new, sometimes never before (or many times before) attempted resolutions, I thought I would share some helpful insights on how to maximise your chances of success with these: using the psychology of how to form and stick to a habit. What are habits and how do they get formed…