I saw a TV show featuring the author Bill Bryson tonight. He made the point that we are only alive for a short time. We once didn’t exist, and one day we will no longer exist on this Earth. I don’t mean this to sound depressing, though. I’d like to encourage you to see your life as an opportunity. I’d also like to encourage you to see yourself as your "job.” I think we owe it to ourselves to have the best possible life. I understand that there are many limitations on us, and I understand that we can be confronted by challenges and tragedies. However, I believe that we need to do whatever it takes to be as happy as we can possibly be.

I think everyone experiences those times when we don't particularly like ourselves. You know - when it's 3am, and you can't sleep because you're beating yourself up. Remembering all the times when you've made a mistake, or even just when you 'think' you've made a mistake. Maybe you know in your heart that you just aren't good enough.

Relationships are a funny thing. While we all kind of "know" that they're as much about our partner as they are about us, some of us seem to forget that. From time to time, at least, it can seem as though we think we're entitled to demand that the relationship conforms to our rules. We might demand that our partner behaves in a certain way - including things such as insisting that the toilet paper hangs in a certain way (are you an ‘over’ or an ‘under’ person), that the milk be put in a certain place in the refrigerator (in the body or the door), or even that our partner conforms with our dress requirements.

When was the last time you did something for you – just because you like it? Too long? It might be time to think about taking up a hobby! In addition to enjoyment, hobbies have lots of benefits in a surprisingly wide range of areas.

We all know what we ‘need’ to do, so why don’t we do it? Well, it ‘is’ quite hard – and we usually want instant results. We want the benefits without putting in too much effort. The research is also pretty clear that it takes 66 days of effort (every day!) to develop a new habit. That might sound daunting, but if you want to make a permanent positive change to your life, 66 days is nothing!

We can all do it tough sometimes, but generally we get through what life throws at us. Sometimes we need help to either make the overcome our problems, or to make sure they don’t take hold. So, what do we need to think about?

There are times when we need to make a change in life – hopefully, for the better! It’s often easier said than done, though. Very often, when we don’t achieve the change we’re after it’s because we fall into a trap called “The White Bear Effect”.

Looking after yourself is something that men are notoriously bad at. Maybe they think they’re bullet-proof, or maybe they think they just need to keep going, no matter what. You ‘need’ to look after yourself though. After all, no-one can do it for you! I think it’s also important to remember that if you want to be there for the people you love – your family and your friends – you need to think about your health and put yourself first.