The complete list of all life-guiding messages for young people – click the titles for further information
Look for ways to feel more in control with change that is coming your way. For example if you are moving to a new house, research it as much as possible before you move. What shops are nearby? What things will help you to ease into your new environment?
Try not to place judgements on other people’s choices; respecting someone else’s choice may help them to respect yours. You don’t have to agree with their actions; focusing on the reasons why you don’t feel happy with a choice might help you to not judge.
Having the strength to say no can be hard, but it can also make you feel good to stick with what you believe in. Explain in a calm way why you don’t want to be part of something, and you might earn respect from others and gain confidence in yourself.
You can try birdwatching by hanging a bird feeder outside a window, or if there’s space and you have permission, you could build a small wooden nesting box on a tree or under a windowsill.
To help connect with animals, you can watch out for wildlife. If you don’t live near open countryside, try visiting a local park to look for squirrels, fish, insects, ducks and other birds. Visit a local community or city farm and help out by volunteering.
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” – Lewis B. Smedes
The person you hold a grudge against isn’t necessarily hurt by this – they go on living their life whilst you are the one stuck dwelling on the things you feel they did. You are the one that continues to hurt inside, while the other person is out dancing.
Looking for opportunities to exert control may also help you to adapt to change. Try thinking of all of the little things that you can control in your daily life, such as what you have for dinner or what you do on your days off from work.
If you’re moving to a new town, view it as an open-ended adventure – do research on your new home, plot out your “visit”, and talk to new people for advice and tips on how to eat, play, and live like a “local”.
Being with people who like doing similar things may help you avoid a situation where you feel pressured into things you don’t want to do. Hanging with the “cool crowd” won’t be as much fun as it looks if you don’t like the decisions that crowd is making.