Stress is a state of mental, physical or emotional tension, resulting from demanding circumstances. At different times in our lives, we all experience demanding circumstances resulting in stress – but it is not always a bad thing.

Ikigai is a Japanese word which translates roughly to a reason for being, encompassing joy, a sense of purpose and meaning and a feeling of wellbeing. Its two parts – iki, meaning life and kai, meaning the realisation of hopes and expectations (Better Humans 2017) but it also has the nuance of "the reason for which you wake up in the morning" (The Ascent 2018).

Last week was Mental Health Week with World Mental Health Day on the 10th of October. At UPP we are passionately focused on teaching and developing good mental health in school communities.

Compassion is “sympathetic concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others” (Oxford Dictionary 2018). So often, we are compassionate towards others, and yet we don’t offer ourselves the same level of concern.