The credit crunch has hit households in such a powerful way it has left many of us feeling insecure, fearful and powerless. These emotions centre on the uncertainty that the recession poses to our financial well-being, stability and security.

Listening to conversations and working with clients, it is clear that when times get tough, people divide into one of two types. One rises to the challenges of the times ahead and adapts accordingly. The other backs down and withdraws from the uncertainty they face.

The choice facing us all is simple: you buy into the paranoia and the media’s...

Tracey Wall,, finds helping others is the perfect way to live a wonderful life. Tracey lives in Cheshire with her husband and five year old daughter.

During a holiday on the west coast of Wales, I realised my life was not the perfect picture I envisaged it would. From the outside, everything seemed wonderful. I had a caring husband and a beautiful daughter who both loved me very much. Not only that, but I had a highly successful career working in management in the finance sector. With the support of my family and friends close by, life really couldn’t get much better.

But it...