It’s been a turbulent few weeks, hasn’t it? That’s why this month we are focusing on what we can control: our thoughts and actions. The starting point for that is pressing pause to focus on what you do want versus what you don’t, so you don’t feel as if you’re simply reacting to whatever is thrown at you. Whether you want to change career, (we invite you to sit in your deckchair and answer the questions posed by our life coach columnist, Kim Morgan, on page 30), or ‘get the sex you deserve’ (read Lucy-Anne Holmes’s feature on page 48), then this issue might be the perfect holiday or weekend companion. Think of us as your very own portable life coach.
Our 18-page Dossier on page 56 encourages you to find new ways to deal with stress. Susan David, psychologist and author of Emotional Agility (Penguin, £14.99) says: ‘If you want to live a life that’s vital, thrilling and energetic, you don’t want to avoid stress – because stress is the point at which you’re experiencing true growth.’
With growth can come failure. Our new columnist, Harriet Minter, talks us through why failing is actually good for the soul on page 17. And, if you’re feeling frazzled, read Sian Clifford’s piece on burnout on page 88.