The complete list of all life-guiding messages for young people – click the titles for further information
If someone forces you to do something you do not want to do of a sexual nature, it is never your fault and it is not OK. You should speak to someone you trust if this has happened to you so that you can get help and support.
“Sexual consent” means a person willingly agrees to have sex or engage in a sexual activity – and that they are free and capable to make their own decision. Sex without consent is rape or sexual assault.
Conversation is a give-and-take dynamic, which involves listening. Nobody ever learned anything from just talking.
Sometimes expectations are focused on one outcome and if you don’t meet it, you might feel disappointed or like you’ve failed…but usually there are a number of ways to achieve a goal. Try to have a couple of strategies for achieving your goals.
Sometimes it can be helpful to re-think your own expectations. This can help you decide if your goals are achievable. It can help to ask yourself, “What would I suggest to a friend in this situation?”
Sadly, death happens, and life still goes on. With your family and friends, support each other to give you all the strength and energy to get through these circumstances.
When a loved one dies, it’s important to remember you could not have changed the circumstances surrounding the loss. You could not have prevented it in any way.
It is not your fault that bad things happen that are beyond your control. Blaming yourself will take you down a long and lonely road with no end in sight. Guilt is a hard taskmaster with no mercy.
It can feel great when we talk about ourselves, especially if there is something we are proud of – but we shouldn’t make the conversation consistently about ourselves. A real conversation is not a monologue, or about trying to constantly impress everyone.
We should focus our full attention on someone when they are speaking to us instead of getting wrapped up in what we’ll say next. When we listen to what others are saying, they feel more connected to us, even if we don’t say that much.