When a friendship feels like it is dragging you down instead of lifting you up, it’s time to decide whether you want to fix it or end it.

Many people that have productive lives filled with happiness have a sense of optimism despite the number of times they seem to have failure in their life. They tend to treat failure as a way of learning or changing their perspective to perhaps handle the same issue in a different way or to move on. That learning often brings with it an attitude of gratitude, appreciation and value for what they already have. People with an optimistic attitude often find their happiness by looking at the positives they can be grateful for instead of continually complaining about what they do not have, and that often also brings a relinquishing of the past.

When illness, depression or addiction take over our lives, it can be helpful to look to spiritual solutions for healing.

Friends don’t only make your life more pleasant, they make it longer.

Pets and their owners have a special connection that is a unique form of love.

Agape is the love of God for humanity and it can bring immense healing if you take the time to access it.

Mindfulness meditation not only reduces inflammation and alters gene expression, it reduces loneliness.

Have you thought that poor dietary habits and a lack of exercise may not be the only things weighing you down? Understanding emotional patterns can be the missing link in achieving your ideal weight.

Whether it’s a scrap of paper, a locked journal or a glowing computer screen, if there is a nagging worry that won’t go away, write about it. After all, who better to share your problems with than a blank page?

Food cravings are very common but finding out what drives your cravings can help you control them.

Technology was initially created to make our lives easier but, as most of us have discovered, just the opposite is true. So what benefits can be gained by switching off, tuning out and dropping offline?

Although you can’t change your genetic predisposition or age-related factors that can lead to heart disease, you can take steps to control the other factors that can contribute.