In the midst of the current financial turmoil, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that 'the most precious asset is confidence'. Now, I know he was talking about the banking system , but his comment set me thinking about leadership, where the same is true.

A lot is said about the confidence of followers in their leaders. We talk less about leaders' confidence in themselves, and what happens when it deserts them.

Do you know any busy professional women? How are their inner resources standing up to the daily barrage of gloomy financial news, extra work challenges and the demands of their personal life? Is there still room for their spirit to soar, or are they feeling increasingly beleaguered?

Perhaps you're thinking 'yes, that's me'. Our 24-hours of quality Me time at beautiful Bore Place, in Kent, may be just the answer. Numbers are restricted to 10, and we are now taking bookings for January to get the New Year off to a flying start.

Candace Pert is a pioneer in what has come to be called psychoneuroimmunology - the study of the effect of the emotions on health. When she began her doctoral research, most of the medical world was sceptical about any possible link between either negative or positive emotions and the body's tendency to become ill or to heal. Now there is widespread acceptance that emotional and physical wellbeing are inextricably linked.

Here Dr Pert tracks not only the scientific discoveries that revolutionised our thinking about stress and all things on the emotional spectrum, but also the personal life events that influenced her thinking. Her academic peers were not all supportive, and the political rollercoaster is a fascinating read.

Pert has a great ability to hook you into the story, whether she is discussing the science or relating the struggle to get the work recognised. Useful knowledge in this turbulent world.