Rather than saying 'I hate mess', it might draw more compassion to say, 'mess terrifies me as a harbinger of catastrophe'.

We should keep a careful diary of our moments of envy: they are our covert guides to what we should try to do next.

I went to church and couldn't swallow it. The music was nice but I don't belong there.

Don't despair: despair suggests you are in total control and know what is coming. You don't - surrender to events with hope.

When work is not going well, it's useful to remember that our identities stretch beyond what is on the business card, that we were people long before we became workers - and will continue to be human once we have put our tools down forever.

As adults, we try to develop the character traits that would have rescued our parents.

Art holds out the promise of inner wholeness.