The Spark Blog

Category: mental health

  • How to Be Happy – part 3

    How to Be Happy – part 3

    According to American pundit William Bennett, the pursuit of happiness can be thought of this way: ‘Happiness is like a cat, if you try to coax it or call it, it will avoid you; it will never come.  But if you pay no attention to it and go about your business, you’ll find it rubbing…

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  • Songs for Sound Minds #28 – Dixie Chicks

    Songs for Sound Minds #28 – Dixie Chicks

    Songs for Sound Minds are our picks of the best music that uplifts, inspires and boosts mental health. Songs written as an anthem to overcoming the storms of life. The songs that give hope in those times when we are struggling. Our latest pick could have been entitled ‘the hard way around’. The Long Way…

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  • How FOMO is making us miss out

    How FOMO is making us miss out

    FOMO – fear of missing out – is a concept that could have been created for the social media age. Essentially, it captures that internal sense that other people are having a better time right now than you are. Partnered with its sibling FoBO – fear of a better option – their impact on our…

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  • How to Be Happy – Part 2

    How to Be Happy – Part 2

    Picture the scene.  A teenager opens their exam results: an A in Art, two Cs in English and French and an F in Maths. The response from their parent is likely to focus on either the good bits or the not so good bits. For example, their response might be: ‘An F in Maths. What…

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  • Songs For Sound Minds #27 – Ben E. King

    Songs For Sound Minds #27 – Ben E. King

    Songs for Sound Minds are our picks of the best music that uplifts, inspires and boosts mental health. Songs written as an anthem to overcoming the storms of life. The songs that give hope in those times when we are struggling. Today’s entry – ‘Stand by Me’ – is a companion piece to one of…

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  • The world’s most dangerous words

    The world’s most dangerous words

    Believe it or not, there are two words in every language that should be considered the most dangerous in the world. With just over 700,000 words in the English dictionary, there are plenty of potential suspects. In the era of Trump and global warming you would be forgiven for thinking they might be ‘launch missiles’…

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  • How to be happy – part 1

    How to be happy – part 1

    This is how to be happy according to Stacey Kramer. “Imagine if you will a gift. I’d like you to picture it in your mind. It’s not too big, about the size of a golf ball. So, envision what it looks like, all wrapped up. Before I show you what’s inside I will tell you…

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  • Songs For Sound Minds #26 – Nina Simone

    Songs For Sound Minds #26 – Nina Simone

    Songs for Sound Minds are our picks of the best music that uplifts, inspires and boosts mental health. Songs written as an anthem to overcoming the storms of life. The songs that give hope in those times when we are struggling. ‘I Got Life’ by Nina Simone ‘I ain’t got no home, ain’t got no…

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  • Myths About Counselling – part 4

    Myths About Counselling – part 4

    We have reached the final part of our 4-part series looking at the most common counselling myths. The Spark is busting the myths and misconceptions that can end up stopping people from considering counselling as a way to overcome the challenges and difficulties of life. By highlighting the truth about counselling we hope to offer…

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