Challenges make you competitive yet no-one doubts your ability to succeed; they know you will do well. A test or trial situation brings out the best in you; you're in it to win and you feel driven by some unseen force to the finish line. People are expecting big things from you and they won't be disappointed. A senior colleague isn't questioning your aptitude by assigning you difficult tasks. On the contrary, they know you're the best person for the job!

Issues within the family need to be dealt with; you can no longer bury your head in the sand. If you feel something or someone is starting to slip away, the sooner you face up to it, the more likely it is, you can prevent what you dread the most, from happening. You need clarity in your life now to help you see why things are falling apart. If ties or agreements made in the past are no longer meeting your needs, ditch them now. The moment you act, things will change.

Feeling all is well with your world doesn't mean everything is perfect; you know that would be too much to expect. Your happiness shows you're able to see beyond the imperfections, accept the flaws, and be glad for all the good in your life. Work relationships, friendships and your more intimate unions will always go through ups and downs. You're at a stage where you can see beyond the blemishes and you're happy to accept and respect those around you for who they are.

It's easier to face the problems you foresee ahead when you have a partner or someone to share them with. You can both take responsibility for shared decisions and if they turn out to be wrong, no-one will blame the other. You will deal with the next stage together until eventually you overcome all hurdles and doing this will strengthen the ties binding you. Knowing certain bonds can't be corrupted no matter what means you have someone to trust and rely on.

A friend's new partner is playing them for a fool; it's never easy to watch without being able to do a thing about it. Some people won't want to hear the truth; they aren't ready to face up to reality. You would love to warn of what's likely to happen if your mate continues as they are but in doing so you could lose their friendship. There is too much at stake to follow your inclinations. All you can do is watch and be ready to dish out the tea and sympathy!

There's some contention going on behind the scenes and someone is trying to suck you into the drama. You need to ask yourself whether you really want to get involved. If it's not your problem, would you not be better off leaving them to deal with it among themselves? The advice of a close friend or associate will be well worth heeding. You are a mirror for each other and soon enough you will appreciate how you both know what's best for each other.

If you can keep religion, politics and moral issues out of conversations, life will be more harmonious. The people you're mixing with today don't have answers to the questions currently bothering you. In fact, they will only confuse you further. You won't be encouraged to follow your chosen path by those who are convinced they know better or their path is better than yours. Don't let other people dictate the terms of your relationships. Insist on having your views taken seriously; you should have your say too.

The whole point of making mistakes is not to repeat them; learn from them and move on. The magnitude of a recent professional blunder may test your strength and endurance and even test the relationships you have with your colleagues. Even so you are getting to know people better. If circumstances have triggered a negative or aggressive reaction from some, it has taken you by surprise and this alerts you to a side of their nature you need to be wary of in the future.

No matter what you're currently going through, you should try to support and cherish a good relationship. You could withdraw from a partnership simply because all is not too wonderful, but in doing so you could be cutting off your nose to spite your face. Give and take is an essential component of a partnership. It won't be easy but your mantra right now should be to 'get through it together'. That way you will keep your relationship healthy and strong. Remember, you only get out of love what you put into it.

It might be preferable, if you're no longer able to tolerate a certain situation involving others, to part amicably. Whether it's love, money or a clash of personalities causing problems, you might sense someone is about to say something and feelings will get hurt. To upset someone you love is to inflict a partial injury on yourself. Pressures within some relationships are mounting; you don't have to stick it out. You can always get out!

Not every offer or proposition has to be a con, it's just how you perceive it today. You might feel suspicious of someone because they've let you down before and you have a right to be hesitant about dealing with them again. Even so, all is not painted in black and white and there is every chance, this person has changed and they are being honest with you now. Life is all about risks and now you must choose whether or not you can trust them and more importantly, whether you really want to.

The difference in an old friend you bump into today compared with when you saw them last might take you by surprise. You could be left wondering how much you too have changed. If you spend a wee while contemplating the past and comparing it with the present, you might catch a glimpse of the person you were then. Once you see the progress you have made and the better person you've become through these experiences, you will realise you're doing okay.