We often look for inspiration or strive for self-improvement at the start of a new year. This four-colour visual journey out today is a good place to start.

With the beginning of a new year, although some might not admit it, we all like to take it as an opportunity for a clean slate. The changing of calendars from one year to the next can work psychological wonders – a New Year, a New You. But with the excitement of 2018 in front of us, it can be a little daunting as well. Almost nothing is certain in life, and this leaves room for fear and anxiety.

Illustrator and author Meera Lee Patel’s new watercolour-based book explores how to overcome fear through a beautiful visual journey of reflection, inspirational quotes, understanding emotion and asking questions. Following on from Start Where You Are, My Friend Fear – on sale today in the UK and US – elegantly explores how having fear is an opportunity to make big changes – and it has received positive reviews already.

“Fear is the one emotion all of us feel on a daily basis; nearly all of the time. It splits into different stresses and anxieties and I wanted to talk about my own experiences with fear and how I’m learning to live with them and I wanted to help other people do the same,” says Meera in the video below, in which she explains more about My Friend Fear.

Each page is a mixture of personal, poetic text, elegant illustration and hand lettering. The book serves as a reflective text.

Meera Lee Patel is a self-taught artist based in Brooklyn, New York City. Inspired by nature and her native India, Meera creates illustrations, prints and textiles.

Buy My Friend Fear for £13.32/US$10.80 from Amazon.