The complete list of all life-guiding messages for young people – click the titles for further information
If you want to spend more time outside, you can eat a picnic in the garden or a park, watch the stars, let the outdoors inspire you creatively such as drawing or poems, or find things to see and touch, like grass under your feet or the feeling of wind.
You can’t change everything, but you can always change something. Wasting your time, talent and emotional energy on things that are beyond your control brings frustration and misery. Invest your energy in the things you can control, and act on them now.
Tell the people you love how much they mean to you on a regular basis. You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can be everything to a few people. You don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of.
Sometimes, you’ll take two steps forward, and one step back. That’s normal and healthy. Don’t judge yourself too harshly for slip-ups or backslides; rather, keep yourself focused on the positive steps you have made and will make next.
If your pet has died, try not to obsess over “When am I going to get over this?”. Instead, focus on small steps in your adjustment process: put away the leash; be able to pass the park without getting upset; and, eventually, feel the urge to get a new one.
Try to talk arguments with your sibling out. This might be hard because they might be at a different maturity level than you. They might not react the way that you’d like, but there are a lot of benefits to discussing the issue.
Many times, small sibling arguments are triggered by bigger issues. They borrowed something and didn’t return it, or they told your parents about something you did wrong. You might think they get more attention, or that people unfairly compare you to them.
If you want to try more activities outside, you can do geocaching, beachcombing, woodland trails, local walking/rambling groups, or regular exercise such as yoga or jogging in a park.
You can use a glass jar to make a mini garden (“terrarium”) for your desk, using plants, soil, stones and anything else you’d like to include. Some people like to add seashells, or plastic toys or figurines.
You are the only one who can directly control the outcome of your life. It won’t always be easy. Everyone has a stack of obstacles in front of them. You must take accountability for your situation, and overcome these obstacles.