The complete list of all life-guiding messages for young people – click the titles for further information
If we choose to foster a sense of inner peace, challenge our perceptions and interpretations when our emotions could use some schooling, and learn to take responsibility for our joy, we can not only minimise pain; we can choose to be a source of pleasure, for ourselves and the people around us.
Living with perspective means always looking at your life from the 10,000 foot level, and when you train yourself to pull back and view yourself from this height, things begin to look different. More often than not, they begin to look much better.
We are just people, and no matter how hard we may try to mitigate negative emotions, they persist. You can use practical tools for gaining perspective amid the tough times.
The only thing that we really have control of is our emotions when dealing with situations. Gaining perspective is a wonderful tool for sustaining a meaningful and fulfilling life.
If you feel a flash of fear about an upcoming deadline or event, make it an opportunity to make a plan of action to get fully prepared, whether that means getting started on a paper, rehearsing for a play or practicing a speech.
Fear can be used as a tool to help us identify problems and solve them effectively. It’s a guidepost that warns us when something needs attention. Once the discomfort of the initial wave of fear passes, examine it more closely to see what you can learn.
Once you’ve established a series of goals, figure out ways to evaluate your progress. Your career development plan is a tool to keep you on track. You want to make sure you have concrete ways to assure you’re where you want to be at any given time.
If you’re a procrastinator by nature, what steps can you take to combat this? You can say something like, “I will limit my time on Facebook and Twitter.” If you’re disorganised, you could say “I will start using a calendar to track deadlines”.
Loneliness can make you feel: unloved and unwanted, socially inadequate, convinced that there is something wrong with you, self-conscious and ill-at-ease with others, and angry and critical of others. Remember you can take action against loneliness, and help others who are feeling the same.
You can feel lonely when: you are alone and have no choice about the matter; you do not feel part of a group or event; there is no-one you feel you can share your feelings and experiences with; you feel disconnected and alienated from your surroundings.