Before speaking your mind, check you've got all your facts right. You want others to understand what you are thinking and how you feel but you could also underestimate their reaction. Before bringing up a contentious issue remember other people have strong views about it, too. Introducing a touchy subject into conversations could have pretty grim consequences unless you really know what you are doing. Sometimes it pays to keep your mouth shut!

Involvement in a team effort helps you learn more about yourself and what makes you tick. Mixing with people outside your usual circle can be fascinating when you're gaining a new understanding of situations you've not been directly exposed to before. You have great respect for the people you are meeting now as you discover real experience beats any amount of reading or classroom training. Not only this but you are building better relationships and enjoying the jobs you've volunteered to do.

Give praise where it is due and pause before giving negative comments or criticism. Is it your job to judge other people's progress? If your role is not in a supervisory capacity, think twice before acting as if you know better than the rest. The more accepting you are of others, the more harmonious life will be. Think of how you feel when your hard working efforts aren't appreciated or are devalued. Enough said!

A friend or loved one's negative mood will overshadow your enjoyment of what was supposed to be a happy occasion. You've always been sensitive to other people's feelings. Even if they try to hide it, you can sense when someone is upset, worried or annoyed. You feel sorry a friend is going through problems and can't enjoy themselves as they should be doing. It's a shame too that this has had an influence on you.

New challenges and opportunities are so exciting you're tempted to burn all your bridges. Just don't strike that match until you've thought about why you're so keen to move on. If it's to avoid making an unpleasant decision or to escape having to face up to the consequences of a recent mistake, you won't get away with it that easily. Face the truth, confront your fears and this will clear the way for future success without you having to give so much up.

You like to work and to feel productive. It is possible to produce some great work through allowing your imagination to wander. Share your thoughts and watch them grow. Ideas will fall on prolific ground as you gain the interest and enthusiastic support of friends and workmates. Conversely, if anyone's having a problem with anything, they can count on you to come up with the best suggestions to help them out.

You can't leave a misunderstanding to fester and cause a relationship break up. You know instinctively that this will happen if no one makes an effort to clear up the problem. An apology is probably the best thing you can do even if you feel you aren't the one in the wrong. What you've got to weigh up is how much this relationship means to you against how annoying it will be to apologise for something that wasn't really your fault!

Give someone the benefit of the doubt to save yourself and them a lot of trouble. You don't want to upset anyone and you won't mean to misjudge a friend or colleague's motives. In fact the moment you question their intentions you will wish you hadn't opened your mouth! Just because one person has recently let you down doesn't mean you can't trust anyyone. Think before you speak is the best advice you can follow.

You're mentally on the ball; if you feel impelled to take a course of action, don't let anyone tell you differently. What you need most is a chance to develop your intellectual skills. There are others who will benefit, too, from your ideas. Your positive encouragement should help stir them into action. Even if it means forming a study, writing or reading group, at times like these you have to make your own opportunities.

Having a strongly comforting shoulder to lean on makes all the difference when times are tough. You don't have to make decisions or do everything on your own: there are people who are willing to help you. Because you hadn't realised how much it has all been getting on top of you, the relief at putting some matters into another person's capable hands will surprise you. One way or another you will find a way to cope.

Without the cold hard facts, it is impossible to make a fair and sensible decision. Wait until you get all the information you need before deciding on what to do next. To enter a financial or legal agreement without all the facts and figures could be inviting trouble for yourself in the future. Be careful who you trust as there are some people who will literally say or do anything to get their own way.

A mentor's ability to explain complex situations makes it easier for you to expand your knowledge. You're learning not to be so narrow minded about subjects and situations you haven't up until now really understood. When you've gone as far as you can, you might decide to stay and contribute to a group effort by teaching others what you have learned. It's the least you can do to show your gratitude for those who have helped you.