We are all heroes even though we don’t know it
A recent article I read had me thinking about bravery and heroism. There is a common belief that when something dangerous or frightening happens most people freeze and do nothing. It is called bystander apathy and it paints a bleak picture of human nature. It suggests that we are wired to stand back and hope […]
“I find it really hard to get started with projects, how do I get motivated?”
Thanks B. It is very common to feel stuck before a project has begun. We can have a great idea in our mind, we can talk about it at length, and we can even look forward to the result, yet somehow getting started feels like pushing a boulder uphill. Many people describe it as a […]
There is always a choice.
The simple truth underlying every moment of our lives is that we always have a choice, though it doesn’t always feel that way. Sometimes the situation seems fixed and unchangeable, sometimes other people behave in ways we do not like, sometimes the world appears to place us in a corner. Yet even in those moments […]
“I’m an honest person and I don’t understand why people tell lies.”
Thanks Y that can be very challenging for many of us. When honesty feels natural to you, being faced with what you perceive as deception, can leave you confused and disappointed. You might think, “If I can tell the truth, why can’t they?” To understand how and why people lie, we need to step back […]
What is community and how do successful communities work?
When we think of community, we often picture a group of people who live close together or share common interests, but community is more than geography or shared hobbies. It is a network of relationships where people feel they belong, where their efforts matter and where they have the freedom to contribute in ways that […]
The “8 Rules”
Reader’s Question:“In social media I keep reading about the “8 rules for this” or “the three rules for that”, usually purportedly written by someone with some claim to professional expertise. How legitimate are these?” M Thanks M, I suspect many people have wondered about that. We are bombarded on social media with advice that comes […]
How do I know if a relationship is worth keeping?
Relationships of all kinds can bring joy, comfort and meaning, but they can also bring frustration, disappointment and doubt. When things feel uncertain, it is natural to wonder if staying connected is the right choice. There are two principles which help provide a clear path: taking responsibility and honest self-evaluation. Taking responsibility means looking closely […]
If It’s Not Social Media, Then What?
I read a recent article by Professor Patrick McGorry about the decline in young people’s mental health. The easy path is to blame social media. Governments, parents and educators are quick to point the finger at Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. While there’s no doubt these platforms can add pressure, the story is bigger than that. […]
The quiet power of everyday connections
When people think about health, they often picture the gym, a run along the river, or a carefully planned diet. One of the most overlooked supports for both body and mind is something far more ordinary, it is the brief conversation with a neighbour over the fence, the smile at the checkout, the quick word […]
Why We Dig In So Deep
Have you noticed how once someone commits to a particular group or belief, it often becomes almost impossible to shift them? Whether it’s a political party, a sporting club, an ideology, or even a family tradition, people often hold on with surprising intensity. It isn’t just loyalty or stubbornness which drives this, something much deeper […]