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Feeling in control of your life is deeply satisfying, and there's a lot of evidence that it keeps you mentally and physically healthy. Lose that feeling of control, and you're very exposed to stress and depression.

There are few things worse than feeling helpless in the face of a chaotic life, so set out to take control of yourself, even if its only on paper for the moment.

In every study of accomplished lives, the conclusions note how fundamentally important it is to feel in control of your life, to feel that what you do affects your future outcomes in the short and long term. Don't give up that sense of control over who and what you are. Don't for instance, allow yourself to be bullied or bribed by the selfish demands of those individuals or institutions around you.

Even two weeks away from home doing your own thing can give you a great sense of independence.

Being 'responsible' doesn't necessarily mean doing what other people want you to. It means being in charge of yourself.

Get into the habit of planning and of writing down those plans down - or better still, writing them up on a wall map of where you're going and how and when you'll get there. You will probably need a 1 or 2 year long-term plan, and a month by month breakdown.

Don't wait for things to happen to you. You have to happen to things.

Beware of having a year-off between school and college that is planned or arranged by your school or by parents. You'll only get the full benefit if you personally have full responsibility, and full credit, for what ever you achieve. It's okay to let your trusted educators and parents support you in your decision-making, but try not to let them manipulate it.

Financial independence from your parents and your employers will afford you a sense of self-confidence and self-control. Take the trouble to manage your accounts.

Having enough money is a fundamental goal in life, particularly if you have had an uncertain financial background to start with. Work out how much is enough, and work out how to earn it fairly and squarely.

It's hell being in debt. I would estimate that 90% of people's problems are financial. A lot of tension is caused because you can't pay next month's mortgage or meet the bills. It can split up friends and partners.

If we don't take care of our finances, we are forced into things by circumstances - which is painful.

Being financially secure takes a lot of the tension out of life, but all the other usual problems still occur.

Earning enough money, if you invest it wisely, allows you to be a free spirit.

What money brings is the freedom to spend my time doing what I want to do rather than what somebody else wants me to do.