One of my favourite books is ‘Happiness is a warm puppy’ by Charles Schulz – what wisdom! In it, Snoopy and his friends identify what makes them happy – everything from ‘scoffing junk food’ to ‘climbing a tree’, to ‘finding someone you like at the front door’. Looking through it, for the first time in […]
Research suggests that being able to forgive may lead to greater wellbeing and better physical health. Where does forgiveness come from, and can we do anything to help it along? Some in a discussion group I attend believe that ‘forgiveness comes through grace’. There is something attractive in this notion as it suggests we cannot […]
Do you hold grudges? I am sorry to say that sometimes I do. Grudges can feel like a real burden but at the same time can be really difficult to let go. They can also affect the quality of life in the present. Of course, there can be small everyday irritations. There can also be times […]
We are all different, in many wonderful ways. And one difference is in the unique set of strengths or gifts that we each hold. Do you know what makes you unique? As a positive psychologist and coach, I embraced the notion of strengths in my work – how to identify them, how to make the most […]
I have heard that it can take many years for someone to walk into a Quaker meeting for the first time, and for some, it can take courage. Recently a number of us reflected on what brought us to Quakers. Amongst us, there are Friends who first came to meeting decades ago, people who have only recently […]
Today the snow has come. It’s looking very beautiful but has meant cancelling a visit this morning to someone I have not seen for some time. Another friend is also snowed in. We were due to meet tomorrow in town midway between our homes, and so this has also been postponed. However, on the bright […]
There is a large body of research linking gratitude to wellbeing and at times over the years I have kept a gratitude journal. Each evening I would note three things that I felt grateful for. This could be an appreciation for something I received from someone; perhaps a physical gift or something less tangible such […]
Positive remarks can come in conversations, in passing comments, in texts or in emails, on social media – in fact there are lots of opportunities, and today I was able to use all of these.
Last week I bought a lovely print from a creative and talented designer. It came from her online shop and I […]
A joy last year was carrying out 150 different acts of kindness to raise funds for Quaker Social Action . I learned a lot from the experience, not least from observing kindness given by others, and receiving kindness too. During the process I realised that some acts of kindness came to me more easily and naturally […]