My friend Martin, a long time recovering alcoholic, was telling me, during a recent recording of the podcast we run together, about how he invented aerophobia (fear of flying). Being stuck on a plane for hours is a nightmare for an alcoholic with even the most accommodating of cabin crew, so … [Read more...] about How To Be Afraid Of Anything
Self Acceptance
How To Create A Habit
My supervisor, who I haven't seen for a couple of months, asks me how I am. "I'm good," I tell her. "Have you lost weight?" She says, wondering if the stress of eye surgery has had an impact. "Maybe, but it won't be stress. Sometimes I forget to eat." She raises an eyebrow and I decide … [Read more...] about How To Create A Habit
Why We Listen To The Critics
Having booked tickets for a film I have wanted to see for a while I search for reviews and try to work out why I don't do it the other way around. The first piece I come across gives the film one star. Emerging from the cinema later I have found it funny, touching and poignant. It was … [Read more...] about Why We Listen To The Critics
How To Manage Yourself
My daughter is in a good mood as she climbs into a bin bag and says, from within its dark recesses, "I have cripplingly low self-esteem" It makes me laugh, and her too when I show her the photo I take of her hunched on the kitchen floor. It's remarkable that she is in such high spirits … [Read more...] about How To Manage Yourself
How To Deal With Obsolescence
It's time to take down the Christmas decorations, a job which always seems to take no time at all, shuffling the festivities out of the door as quickly as possible, their obsolescence unquestioned and fitting. My phone constantly has a notification popping up which tells me I have "insufficient … [Read more...] about How To Deal With Obsolescence