A Resilient Life. A New FREE Booklet for You
In A Resilient Life, I explore the four factors psychologists say help us to build resilience: positive emotions, significant achievement, strong relationships, and a sense of meaning. But here’s the twist: all these factors can be found in the Sermon on the Mount, which shows us how to develop in our lives through divine means
“Go at the Speed of Joy,” He Said. But Could I?
Sitting in a hotel room late last year, six words dropped into my mind: Go at the speed of joy. I’ve been trying to put them into practice ever since.
The Question That Shook Me From Relational Complacency
It was the question that burrowed under my skin and wouldn't come out. And it did me good, shaking me from my complacency. It came a few years ago when Merryn and I were sitting in a seminar on fostering and adoption. As well as informing us of the joys that adoption can bring, our
Why You Should Deface Your Books
If you live in the UK and aren't already on it, all the Hermiones, Where’s Wallys and Cats in Hats at the school gate will soon remind you that today is World Book Day. While the UK event focuses on children, the global event (held on April 23) is a day for all to celebrate
It’s Those Who Truly Seek That Find
In 2010, an 80-year-old antiques dealer named Forrest Fenn walked into the Rocky Mountains, dug a hole, and buried an ornate box full of his finest treasures. Whoever stumbled upon the box would get to keep all the gold, jewellery and gems it contained—over $1 million worth. If the game wasn’t already fun enough, Fenn gave
Why Can’t Us Men Tell Each Other How We Feel?
In our Friendship Lab Survey, how and when to express affection to a friend came up as a common question, often by men. It wasn’t always difficult to do so, so where did we go wrong?
Take the Friendship Lab Survey
Friendship is essential for our wellbeing, yet more people are reporting having few or even no friends. To help address this need, we at Friendship Lab are designing an evidence-based course to help us all form and deepen adult friendships. Three years of preparation have gone into its design, and pilots will soon be run.
The Meaning of Your Life? Just Follow Your Tears of Joy
I saw a beautiful story the other day about a guy named Francis. Leaving his university dorm one morning, he found a group of friends waiting outside waving balloons. It wasn't his birthday, so Francis was confused. Then one of the friends stepped forward, holding a box. "There's no guarantee these will work," he said,
Are these the 3 Themes of Every Human Journey?
Apparently we are most likely to reflect on our lives at the turn of a new year or when we reach a milestone birthday. Well, a new year has come and a few months ago I turned 50—so I’ve been reflecting! And the discovery I’ve made is that these decades of adulthood, with all their
Boxing Day Blah
One of my favourite Christmas artworks is a painting called The Nativity by contemporary artist Brian Kershisnick. The first thing that strikes you is the hundreds of angels swooping across the canvas to get their first glimpse of Mary’s new-born son. After this your eye falls on two delightful details—first, that it isn’t Mary or