'It isn't what happens to you in life that counts, it's what you do about it that matters,' the happiness guru and single mum says.
And she should know. Shelley's son Callum was born with cerebral palsy and completely blind. She was told he'd never walk or see.

Within 12 months of the diagnosis, Shelley's partner had left her and their baby son. 'Studies show that about 90 per cent of couples who have special needs children end up divorced because of the strain the illness places on the family,' Shelley says.

'I had to start working 12-hour days as a psychologist in the UK. I also had a job as a television presenter, all in between doing Callum's physio for 90 minutes every day.

'Callum constantly required operations to straighten his legs, and I took him to all sorts of doctors for his eyes. Money was a struggle. But I always stayed positive. And I also trusted
my own intuition,' she says.

Shelley used patches to re-pattern Callum's eyesight, which gradually taught him to see the difference between light and dark.

'It wasn't his eyes that didn't see, it was something awry in his brain, so I thought that stimulating the brain to create new connections might help,' Shelley explains. 'None of the doctors thought it would work - but after seven years of persistence Callum got the all clear and has now regained 100 per cent vision.'

Today Callum is 15 years old and can see and walk. And Shelley's bestselling books on happiness are taking the world by storm.

The UK-born Sydney-based mother is even set to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show soon, to share her tips on how to be happy.

Shelley's secrets to hppiness

• See the glass as half full 'If my son hadn't been born blind with cerebral palsy then perhaps my marriage may have lasted longer. But perhaps I wouldn't have become the motivated, passionate carer and philanthropist I am today,' Shelley says.
  Shelley's website, http://www.2b1charity.org/, provides practical, free solutions for people who have kids with special needs. 'When bad things happen, there's almost always a silver lining,' she says.
• Live in the present 'Learn to appreciate the here and now. Focus on the little everyday moments of happiness and relish them - don't let them pass you by without acknowledging them,' Shelley advises. 'Happiness is the journey, not the destination.'
• Reach for the stars 'We were told Callum would never walk, but I always hoped. I promised him a pair of Lion King running shoes and a trip to Disneyland if he took his first steps. One day he watched Forrest Gump. He watched it another 400 times then, when he was four, he told me:
  "I don't want to walk, Mummy. I want to run.''
  'Two weeks later he took his first steps, and all the hours of physio we'd done together started to pay off. I had no money at the time, but I maxed-out my credit card and took him to Disneyland to buy those Lion King shoes.
  'Now, after six straightening surgeries, he's walking - with a limp but unaided,' Shelley says.

The power of one

Shelley knows the toll single parenting can take on your health. Consider these facts.

• One parent families are the fastest growing type of family in Australia.
• Children raised by single parents are 40 per cent more likely to be obese. 
• Single mums are much more likely to smoke - 75 per cent of disadvantaged mums smoke compared to 25 per cent of other mums.
• Single parents are at a 40 per cent higher risk of depression than couples.

Shelley says none of these facts surprise her. 'A single parent often does the work of three people on any given day. They also have additional stresses other people just don't experience.
'They tend to survive on much less sleep and are often critical of themselves because they have little emotional support,' she says.

'And worrying about money is endless.' The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to make single parenting a better experience.

• Focus on the positives. 'Kids from single parent families often have closer relationships, and they tend to be very mature for their age, so it's important to nurture this and tell your kids how proud you are of their achievements,' Shelley says.
• Get a network. Single mums are often exhausted and frequently 'dump' their problems on their kids. That's why it's so important to develop a network of adults around you. Join a parenting group, or carers can try
  www.sunnyfield.com.au, a charity to help single parents with sick kids.
• If your partner's around, try to create a civil and fair arrangement for care.
• Nurture responsibility. 'If you feed your child's sense of proud independence they'll feel great knowing they have a purpose in life and have helped their family,' she says.
• Remember to laugh. 'Always keep your sense of humour - otherwise you'll cry,' Shelley says.
• Take regular time out for you so you can recharge and restore your energy.
• Know your rights. 'I didn't know what I was entitled to, so I missed out on an allowance for 10 years,' Shelley says.
  'Find out from Centrelink what you're eligible for.'

Did you know?

More than 70 per cent of calls to Family Assistance are answered within 150 seconds, Centrelink promises. Call 136 150 today, or try their payment-rate estimator at www.centrelink.gov.au

For more great life advice, check out the latest issue of New Idea - on sale now!