In Japanese ‘Kintsugi’ means to 'join with gold', an elegant and graceful way to mend broken pottery, leaving the mend fully visible and highlighting it with the precious metal. The pot shards are fused back together with gold, and the gilded cracks become part of the object's beauty.

The alarm clock goes off. At first there's that lovely blank feeling, the feeling you get just before you fully wake and realise what your day will involve. Then you remember it's a weekday and your mood sinks.

Do you find daily exercise a constant struggle as it’s often the first priority to get scratched as you juggle a myriad of deadlines at work and at home?

Are you in the habit of being a 'glass half empty' person, a bit of a pessimist? If so you can learn to become more optimistic, learn how to fill that glass even if you're easily discouraged. You can steadily learn how to change your habitual reactions. Here's why it matters, and how Martin Seligman’s approach and techniques can help you.

At various times in your career you'll probably find yourself handling a variety of challenging situations. In fact anyone on an upward career path will encounter tricky circumstances at one time or another, involving unhappy, disappointed and frustrated people. So how do you manage yourself, and them, effectively?

Are you holding onto pain when doing so doesn’t fix a thing? Are you replaying the past over and over, even though you know it won't change? Do you find yourself wishing things were different? At home or at work?

If you've ever eaten too much chocolate three weeks after a New Year resolution to not do so, or given up on the gym in favour of lounging around, you'll already know it. It can be hard to change a habit.

Do you cope with criticism at work? Or do you feel every less-than-positive word is like a personal injury? When your skin is too thin for comfort you’re emotionally vulnerable, on edge and much more likely to feel overwhelmed or low. And that can make working life very uncomfortable indeed.

We have a lot in common with chimpanzees, our close genetic relatives. Like us they use tools, recognise themselves in mirrors, experience emotions. But if you've ever seen footage of chimps at war, chimps carrying out a brutal murder, chimps losing the plot completely, it's easy to see they're far from human. We tend to have more control over our emotions... most of the time!

Staying in your comfort zone may seem like a great idea. It feels really comfortable and familiar. The thing is, humans are wired to grow and develop.

Focusing on your deeply-held values can be extremely beneficial at every stage in your career. Understanding your core professional values and how they directly influence you in a working context will help you to be yourself with far more skill. Values ground and anchor you. When life and work engage your values strongly, and you can express them congruently, you’ll be more fulfilled. But when there’s tension and conflict around them, the opposite happens.

Do you start off fired up with enthusiasm then steadily deflate? If you have issues with deadlines, here's how to polish your completer-finisher skills.

Are you great at interviews, or do you get stuck at certain points? Here are some great tips for creating the very best job interview experience for everyone concerned.