In a small souvenir shop on a Greek island, you spin the wire rack and postcards flicker past in a blur of Aegean blues and chalky whites. You take your time before choosing: an image of mouth-watering local dishes for a foodie friend, a vibrant underwater scene for a scuba-loving cousin. After a day of …
Ashen-faced, soaked in rain and with a big swollen cheek, my husband returned home. He’d had a tooth out and – apparently – I’d said I’d meet him afterwards at the dentist. The penny slowly dropped. I’d said that I’d meet him after his appointment, but started chatting with a friend. And then totally forgot. …
You did it! You aced the interview, and the promotion you’ve had your heart set on is yours. But where you expected to feel elation, the ultimate sense of achievement, there’s a nagging voice in your head interrupting your celebrations. ‘What’s next?’ it says. ‘You can do better, you know.’ You’re not alone in chasing …
‘You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.’ It’s a phrase you’ve probably heard plenty of times. Reciprocity, or the unspoken expectation of it, is ingrained in social interactions. Even just hearing a heartfelt ‘thank you’ or ‘I owe you one!’ can feel satisfying when you’ve done something nice for someone. And if you don’t receive …
There’s plenty of happiness to be found in the present moment, but sometimes life necessitates change, and changes take planning. Whether it’s a new job, moving house or starting your own business, planning the future can take you away from joy in the here and now. One of the problems is that when you start …
Picture the scene: you’re halfway through the work day when a friend sends a long, gloomy text message about a recurring relationship problem. Heart pounding at the thought of their discomfort, you hurry out of the office to call them. You launch into a 20-minute advice session – something that’s become a regular occurrence over …
Language is a strange beast. It’s essential to articulate needs, facilitate transactions and transmit vital information. But humans also use it in another crucial way: to deepen personal connections. From social chitchat at work to a heart-to-heart with a friend, when you’re in a room with someone, it’s language that you turn to, intersected with …
How do you show appreciation and affection for someone you care about? Perhaps you’re a person who responds to physical touch and you love to greet friends with a warm hug or give colleagues a pat on the back. Or maybe you prefer to put a lot of thought into selecting the perfect birthday gifts …
Are you a hugger? For some people, hugging comes so naturally that they’re happy to throw their arms around complete strangers in a warm greeting or envelop their loved ones in a strong, lingering bear hug. Others might only feel comfortable hugging loved ones and dislike similar physical contact with colleagues or acquaintances. And there …
The word ‘community’ conjures many images. Maybe it’s running the tombola at a bustling fair or sitting in a cosy living room, dissecting the latest novel at a book club. It could also be smaller, more everyday things – chatting to your neighbour as you take out the rubbish or smiling at the dog-walker you …
