Many people move through life feeling as though their own habits are steering the ship. Patterns they never consciously chose, routines that don’t feel good, and behaviours that seem to operate on autopilot. Whether it’s emotional eating, numbing out with endless scrolling, drinking more than intended, or repeating the same relationship cycles, it can start to feel like our habits hold more authority than we do.This episode challenges that belief head‑on. It unpacks how real change unfolds, why sheer willpower rarely works, and how compassion, rather than self‑punishment, can interrupt long‑standing patterns and help us reclaim a sense of agency.

On this episode of The Happier Life Project, Shahroo Izadi joins the conversation. Shahroo is a behavioural change specialist, psychologist, and bestselling author whose work has reshaped how thousands of people understand habits, addiction, and personal growth. With more than a decade of experience, including roles within NHS addiction services and as Relapse Prevention Lead at Amy’s Place (the Amy Winehouse Foundation’s recovery residence for young women), Shahroo has brought her practical, empathetic approach to over 175 organisations across 13 countries, from Google to Meta to Amazon. Shahroo is also the author of three books including two Amazon number-one bestsellers, and is best known for her Kindness Method, a practical, self-compassion-based framework that helps people build habits that stick, without shame or self-criticism.

This conversation explores Shahroo Izadi’s compassionate approach to behaviour change, including The Kindness Method and why shame, self‑criticism, and willpower‑only strategies keep us stuck. She breaks down the difference between wanting to change and being ready to change, the emotional payoff behind our habits, and how small, practical micro‑strategies can help us interrupt patterns and reclaim our lives. Shahroo also shares insights from her work in NHS addiction services, talks about why relapse isn’t failure, reveals how to respond to setbacks without losing progress, plus the powerful role loneliness plays in habit formation. This is a grounded, hopeful look at why change is hard, why it’s possible, and how compassion can make it stick.

​​To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself/

For more on Shahroo and her books: https://www.shahrooizadi.co.uk/

To follow Shahroo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shahroo_izadi/

In this gentle and deeply grounding episode, Gabby talks to psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and bestselling author Sue Stuart‑Smith to explore the profound connection between gardening, nature, and our mental wellbeing. Drawing on her acclaimed book "The Well Gardened Mind", Sue reflects on her journey from clinical psychiatry into the therapeutic world of gardening, sharing powerful stories of people who have found healing, resilience, and renewed purpose through tending to plants.

Together, Gabby and Sue delve into the emotional and psychological benefits of reconnecting with the natural world. They discuss how gardening can soothe the nervous system, why sensory experiences in nature offer such deep comfort, and how even the smallest moments of green space can help us feel more regulated and grounded. Sue explains the symbolism and emotional power of flowers, the importance of community gardens in fostering connection, and the impact that modern screen culture and urban living have on our mental health.

This conversation isn’t about being a “good” gardener or having a perfect green thumb. It’s about remembering our innate relationship with nature and recognising that nurturing something living - even a single plant on a windowsill - can quietly nurture us in return. As Sue beautifully says, “When we work with nature outside us, we work with nature inside us.”

Whether you’re an experienced gardener or someone who has never planted a seed, this episode offers a calming reminder that nature is always available to support us. It’s a conversation about what it means to be human, to be rooted, and to rediscover the grounding power of the natural world.

Sue Stuart‑Smith is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and the author of The Well Gardened Mind, a Sunday Times Bestseller that was named one of The Times’ 37 best books of 2020 and awarded Gardening Book of the Year by The Sunday Times. She originally studied English Literature at the University of Cambridge before qualifying as a doctor and spending many years working in the National Health Service, where she became the lead clinician for psychotherapy in Hertfordshire. Sue now teaches at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London and works as a consultant at DocHealth, a not‑for‑profit psychotherapeutic consultation service for doctors.

​​To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself/

For more on Sue, her projects and book: https://www.suestuartsmith.com/

To follow Sue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suestuartsmith

What do King Charles III, David Beckham, Paul McCartney, Emma Watson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jamie Laing and Stacey Dooley have in common with The Happier Life Project host Gabby Sanderson? The answer is the theme of today’s episode: homeopathy.

Homeopathy is an alternative approach to wellbeing that considers the whole person; emotional, mental, and physical, rather than focusing solely on symptoms. It’s based on the idea that the body has an innate ability to rebalance itself, and that highly diluted natural substances may help stimulate that process.

Gabby brings this conversation to the podcast following her own profoundly positive personal experience. Over recent months, she has noticed significant shifts in her mental and emotional wellbeing while working with homeopathy. Aware that the topic can spark both curiosity and scepticism, she invites listeners to stay open, to listen with curiosity rather than conclusions, especially if the practice is new or unfamiliar.

Gabby is joined by two guests with deep expertise and lived experience in the field. Helen Johnson is an osteopath, naturopath, cranial osteopath, and homeopath with decades of experience in holistic medicine. She now leads professional training programmes, including The River School of Homeopathy, where students qualify to practise as homeopaths. Alongside her is Katrina “Trina” McLaren, who transitioned from a successful global marketing career — including over six years at ASOS — into the world of healing. After training in Reiki Levels I and II, Trina went on to study homeopathy under Helen and now practises professionally. She is also Gabby’s personal homeopath.

In this episode, Gabby, Helen, and Trina explore what homeopathy is, how it works, who it may support, and what the healing process can feel like, particularly in relation to emotional and mental wellbeing. They also discuss the history of homeopathy, its widespread use in India, and its growing resurgence in the Western world.

Helen and Trina share real-life examples from their work, offering insight into how homeopathy has been used to support individuals through deep emotional challenges. For Gabby, hearing these stories, alongside her own experience, has opened her eyes to the potential depth of this approach. If you’re curious about alternative pathways to healing, or simply open to exploring different perspectives on wellbeing, this episode invites you into a thoughtful and nuanced conversation.

To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself/

Helen Johnson website: https://www.helenjohnson.org/

Katrina McLaren website: www.katrinamclaren.com

River School of Homeopathy: https://www.riverschoolofhomeopathy.org/who-we-are/ River School of Homeopathy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverschoolofhomeopathy/

For more information on research into homeopathic medicine, visit the Homeopathic Research Institute: https://www.hri-research.org/resources/homeopathy-faqs/

The short YouTube video Helen refers to when discussing the memory of water: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZmYcJ0DNBc

The longer YouTube video Helen refers to when discussing the memory of water: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8VyUsVOic0