Have you ever had a chat about nothing in particular with a total stranger? Perhaps at a bus stop or on the grocery store line? Oh, and did you ever get all your grocery shopping done for the week on Sunday, and ate half of it by Monday? I feel you. Then again, you know what they say: Grocery shopping – where you spend half your time looking for things you need and the other half avoiding people you know.

Have you ever found yourself suddenly unable to carry out your normal day-to-day activities? Perhaps you started crying and simply could not stop. Or you took to bed in the middle of the day. You know what they say: Naps are tricky, because you either wake up refreshed and relaxed, or you have a headache, dry throat, and are unaware of what year you’re in. But truly, underneath layers of deception, you may have convinced yourself that you are incapable or unworthy of going on in this life.

What do you need to do in order to be happy? Do you dream of succeeding or winning against someone or something? Instead of conquering the world, perhaps we should prevail over our own minds. As they say: When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: “Whose?”

Are you incurably addicted to your own gratification? Perhaps you engage in inordinate amounts of pleasure-seeking. Maybe you know someone who seems incredibly self-absorbed. Your friend or mate may even ignore you in the name of his own needs.

Why do some friendships and relationships make it while others don’t? If you ask anyone in a close relationship, they will surely tell you that they set out wanting to make things work. Have any of your long-term friendships simply dissolved or faded away?