The complete list of all life-guiding messages for young people – click the titles for further information
There are many life events that can be viewed as stressful, such as being involved in, or witnessing an accident, being a victim of, or witnessing abuse or violence, or having someone close to you die. Any stressful event can affect your emotions.
Laughing makes it easier for you to remember positive thoughts and positive memories. It also has a relaxing effect, and will help to reduce body tension.
When you’re feeling anxious or down, you tend to have a rather grim face, and your thoughts, which are keyed to your emotions, are similarly grim. If you try laughing off your mood, you engage facial and body muscles associated with positive emotions.
If you want to feel more appreciative instantly, change your ‘I have to’ statements to ‘I get to’. ‘I get to walk across town’ will help you appreciate the the sights, sounds, smells and movement you encounter that others may not be able to.
We spend so much of our time focusing on what is lacking in our lives. We focus on being, doing, and having more in our lives. When we focus on more, we become blind to all we are, all we can do and all we have in our lives, right now.
Bottling up such strong negative emotions can only poison your body and mind. If you find it difficult to cry, try watching a movie that has similar themes to the pain you’re in, and cry it out.
Have you been fighting back the tears? Don’t. Let them go. Crying has health benefits such as releasing toxins from your body and relieving stress.
Being an individual means making decisions based on what is best for you. It means taking ownership and responsibility for what you do and how you think. But being an individual also means that you can be a valued part of a comfortable and welcoming group.
Sometimes the pressure comes from you. Feeling different from a group can be hard. You might do things to make sure you feel like the rest of the group. When people feel unsure about themselves, they might be more likely to feel the effects of peer pressure.
To distract yourself from a bad mood, immerse yourself in comedy and humour. Watch a funny movie or TV show. Listen to a favourite comedian’s routine. Read a funny book or magazine. Find something that will make you forget yourself and laugh out loud for a while.