Brave new world

‘There’s an inner adventurer in all of us – sitting behind our desk or snuggling up on our sofa – who might be yearning to get out and prove what we can do and who we are!’ declares adventurer Belinda Kirk on page 32. It might not have felt quite like that over the past year, but now that our lives are (hopefully) opening up again, discover why taking a few simple steps to free the bold spirit within may be just what you need to help you feel more confident and hopeful in the days and months ahead.

Trying to kick some of your less-favourite habits is another way you can give yourself a powerful boost this month. Many of us have found the siren call of a second helping of salted caramel ice cream or chocolate fudge cake harder to resist recently, but Anita Chaudhuri gives us the tools we need to regain control over comfort eating in our Dossier on page 61, and Rebecca Frank helps us liberate ourselves from constantly checking our phones on page 28.

And, if you have any important conversations coming up this month, from asking your boss for a pay rise to explaining to your other half that he really does need to do his share of the childcare this summer, Larissa Chapman has a few killer tips on how to improve your powers of persuasion on page 44.

Our ‘Last word’ on page 106 comes from the incomparable Helen Keller: ‘Keep your face turned towards the sun and you will not see the shadows.’ You’ve already taken that decision by picking up this magazine – ‘turning your face towards the sun’ by reaching for our empowering features and choosing ways to help yourself be more courageous and positive, in command of your life and happier. I hope that simply by reading Psychologies, you will find your days a little sunnier.

This is my first issue as Editor of Psychologies. Thank you to the wonderful Suzy Walker for handing me the reins of this amazing magazine. I’m looking forward to adventuring with you. Have a wonderful month!