The complete list of all life-guiding messages for young people – click the titles for further information
Talking about your feelings can help you make sense of them. Sometimes, just verbalising what is upsetting you to someone you trust can help you sort through your feelings, or make the situation clearer.
The three basics of good body language are the smile, eye contact, and the handshake. Smile at someone from the heart when you meet them. Look them in the eye when you speak to them, or when they speak to you. Combine with a good, firm handshake. Keep your body relaxed and posture confident.
When someone is talking to you, be fully engaged and present with them. Block off all judgement, and stop yourself thinking of what you’re going to say. If you’re able to, also listen to the tone of voice, pace of speech, and shift in energy to understand their emotions.
By practising meditation, you can observe your thoughts without identifying with them. You are not your thoughts; observe them without judgement. Watch them come and go without clinging to them. Watch long enough and you’ll see that your negative thoughts have no power over you.
Negative thinking often begins with the unrealistic expectations that the path should be clear for whatever you’re trying to accomplish. When things go wrong, this doesn’t need to reaffirm the idea that you’re no good at anything. Instead of dreading failure, look forward to it as an opportunity to learn.
Some life changes will be completely beyond your control, such as a friend moving away. Even when you do have some amount of control, you still cannot control that the change will happen. However, you always have the ability to control how you respond to the change.
Once you’ve determined precisely what change is happening in your life, you can develop coping strategies that are best suited to deal with the circumstances.
Talking to someone about how you’re feeling can help you sort through your feelings, put things in perspective, and release tension. The person you speak with might also suggest options that you had not thought about before.
Everyone goes through tough times, and no matter how long you’ve had something on your mind – whether for just a few hours or months – it’s important that you talk to someone about it. You don’t have to confront your setbacks alone.
Insecurities, physical and mental health, and external forces such as cash flow can threaten your ability to focus and become the best version of yourself.