Think about all the things in your life that you are proud of. What things have you done in your past that you can look back on today and say, ‘yep, I’m really proud of the way I did that’. What about the things you are doing now that you are proud of? As you take the time to reflect on this activity, have a think about what these things tell you about the sort of person you are. You may come to understand a bit more about the things …

So often we keep lists of things to do. Some of these get done, some are ignored and some are carried over for another day. However, how about starting a list of achievements? As you see yourself achieving things (no matter how small), keep a note. Not only is this an incentive to get through your things to do list, it will also provide you with an indication of how productive your days actually are.

If you have fallen out with someone, be the first to make up. You really will feel better for it. You don’t have to say sorry, but if you are, go ahead and say it!

If you were to live your life as you are currently, would you have any regrets years down the line? It could be not following your most desired career or not visiting a country you’ve always yearned to see. It could even be not devoting enough time to certain people, or a hobby. Write them down and think about the steps you can take to make those changes. Your next task is to put those steps into action!

How’s your self-control? Do you sometimes do something that you know violates your goals and standards or undermines how you feel about yourself? For example, eating too many donuts then ALWAYS regretting it afterwards. To help gain control, write down exactly why this behaviour is a mistake, preferably at the moment you experience the regret. Then put this piece of paper somewhere where you can remind yourself how you will feel when you start to get tempted once more.

If you are facing a current dilemma or difficulty in your life, try using your past experience for inspiration. Recall difficulties in your past. What did you do to overcome them? Who did you turn to for support? Is there anything that through experience tells you works better than other possibilities? Your past concern does not have to be the same as what you are facing presently to be of use to you. As you resolve your present dilemma, make a mental note of what worked for you so you …

We all have regrets or bad times in our life. Sometimes we use them to justify being unhappy today. This exercise will hopefully help you realise that time in your life was not all negative. Take a large sheet of paper. In very small writing in the bottom right corner write out that unhappy event. Then use the rest of the paper to write out all the good things that happened during that time. Take as long as you like and try to fill the page.

This week take time to reflect on yourself. Are you stuck in the past? It is easy to hold on to a time that you associate with better days. You may dress in 1970s gear, your house consists of 1970s decor and you may even act like you did back then. It’s okay to move on and develop new hopes, dreams and a new you. Try to become the present – it’s the best place to be.

If you want to be truly happy, try forgiving. You do not have to do it face to face. Forgiveness is for your benefit – write it in a diary, or tell a friend that you have forgiven the other person. You may have held a grudge against someone who has wronged you in the past and thinking about it still makes you unhappy. Being able to forgive enables you to move on in your life and embrace happier emotions. For future wrongs, try to forgive quickly so it does …

What sort of things have you engaged in over the years that have made you happy but you are no longer doing? Take your time to think about different activities you took part in. It may have been in your recent past or something you did years ago, possibly even as a child. Now look at your list. What can you start doing again? Commitments and lifestyle changes may mean the task takes on a different slant. The trick is to tailor the activity or activities (why stick at one?) …