I have got better at swinging my mood. When my thoughts are sliding into a whirlpool, I have a few tricks and thoughts I turn to. Sometimes I wait too long and find myself in a spin of gloom, but it doesn’t last as long as it used to. Practising the skill of making myself happy has definitely improved the lives of those I live with. If you ignore yourself and what you enjoy, it often leads to depletion, resentment and grouchiness. If you feel guilty for resting, pursuing your

I felt hemmed in today by everyone’s emotions. I couldn’t see what the next good thing was for me to do. I’d had my coffee, but I still couldn’t think clearly - so I changed my shoes, grabbed my phone, and told my family I was going for a walk. Walking helps me clarify my thoughts and figure out my feelings. When you are walking, you can sift through the things you need to do and what you can let slide because it’s not yours to carry. When I feel hemmed in by emotions

The word “stick” gives us a clue about how we often approach our plans. It suggests we need to be glued to them - following every detail without deviation. We convince ourselves that the only way to get results is to dig deep, push through no matter how we feel, and never change course. When we question this rigid thinking, we see that it is not helpful or logical – it also discourages progress because it is a trap. A more helpful thought is: Keep the plan, but make it flexib

The first step towards emotional resilience is to have a realistic but hopeful view of the situation. This means thinking accurately about what you are facing instead of allowing yourself to become overwhelmed.