Author: Stephanie Hills

  • Ideal job

    “That’s a great place to work!” shouted my 16-year-old brother after coming home from the first day at his first job. “I get two weeks’ paid holiday.”“I’m so glad,” said my mother.“Yeah,” added John. “I can’t wait to find out where they send me!”

  • Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in Without Going Crazy

    Active Hope: How to Face the Mess we’re in Without Going Crazy by Joanna R Macy and Chris Johnstone Climate change and other problems faced by the world need to be addressed urgently, yet our most common responses – either panic, or trying not to think about it – are unhelpful. This book gives practical […]

  • Is Happiness a Choice?

    Decades ago, researchers discovered that individuals appear to have a ‘set point’ of happiness. For example, if someone scores 6 out of 10 for happiness, that score may slightly increase or decrease according to life’s ups and downs, but they’re likely to keep returning to a 6 over their lifetime. A year after a big […]

  • Doctor’s diagnosis

    I went to the doctor. He said, “I see you have an iron deficiency.”I said, “How can you tell?”He said, “Your shirt’s really creased.”

  • Gloves returned

    Many thanks to the young woman who ran after me when I accidentally left my favourite gloves on a park bench. They would have been sorely missed. Thank you for taking the trouble to notice and act. May strangers be just as kind to you.

  • Random Acts of Kindness

    On 1st September, New Zealand celebrates Random Acts of Kindness Day, a tradition started in 2005 by Josh de Jong and some friends. After witnessing a road rage incident, Josh thought how good it would be if people could be kind to strangers, even if only for one day of the year. The result was […]

  • The Psychology of Luck workshop

    Why do some people constantly experience good luck, while others don’t? Richard Wiseman found that much of it comes down to the habits that lucky people cultivate, which invite opportunities into their lives. In this workshop, learn and practice the 12 habits that invite good fortune. If you would like to hold this workshop in […]

  • New pharmacist

    I started my new job today. It’s in the chemist just down the road. This bloke walked in and said, “I feel terrible, I’ve got a thumping headache, earache, sore throat and a runny nose. Have you got anything?” I said, “No, l feel fine.”

  • Hardwiring Happiness

    Hardwiring Happiness: The new brain science of contentment, calm and confidence. By Rick Hanson, PhD. Using a warm, readable style, Rick Hanson uses neuroscience to explain how our needs for safety, satisfaction and connection have evolved to have us focussing on the negative, a trait less than healthy in modern society. By ‘taking in the […]

  • Encourage the Changes You’d Like to See

    Puppy training courses emphasise the importance of rewarding the behaviours that you want your dog to do more of; a focus markedly more effective than simply punishing unwanted behaviours. Once the dog has learned what’s expected, it doesn’t need a ‘treat’ every time, but an approving nod or pat will let your pet know that […]