The “Motiwake Personal Development Alarm Clock” awakens you with positive affirmations to programme you for the day. Many people use their own “Demotiwake Personal Alarm Clocks” instead. Isn’t it a better idea just to drop the programmes and relax?

We might find that when we have time and space, or when we meditate, or go for walks, or write down what we are feeling, or whatever it is that we do, we end up just listening to our thoughts, which behave like the loudest guests at the party. We might never hear from that quiet girl in the corner who looks really interesting…

At last! Research shows that I was destined to be happy from the moment that tricky combination of genes and environment endowed me with a craving for long hot baths at any time of day.

We have all heard of the fight-flight response, the system which kicks in automatically when we perceive danger. Less commonly known are the neural circuits triggered by social contact that calm the heart, relax the gut, and switch off fear.