The complete list of all life-guiding messages for young people – click the titles for further information
Write down everything that is good and positive. Are you thankful for a loving mother? A supportive father? Even something like having a roof over your head counts. Write it all down and reflect upon it. Practising gratitude can give you perspective.
It is important for you to find a healthy way to deal with your feelings before they become overwhelming. Some options include: express yourself creatively, keep a diary or journal, talk to someone, or seek professional help.
If you have flashbacks of a stressful event, have bad dreams, lose your appetite or sleep, or become distant from day-to-day activities and these experiences persist, you may want to consult your doctor, a counsellor, or other mental health professional.
Most jealousy is rooted in feelings of inadequacy; they see something in you that makes them feel that they aren’t as good. Real or imagined, negative thoughts or actions emerge as a reaction or solution to those feelings of inadequacy.
It can hurt to have a friend who is jealous, because the actions and emotional expressions of a jealous person are not kind or loving, and you may take it personally. Their jealousy is caused by their own underlying issues and it is not your fault.
The shift toward feeling whole is about loving the whole of yourself fully and openly. Not in spite of the flaws but including the flaws. It’s the parts of you that you don’t want to see, that are struggling to keep up, that need your love the most.
Recognising your wholeness does not mean striving for perfection. Being whole means seeing perfection and imperfection, hurting and healing, fear and courage, the shadows and the light, as parts of yourself. These are all part of your wholeness.
Letting your loved ones in to support you benefits both them and you. Humans are social creatures, and isolating yourself ends up exacerbating your pain. Connection is the antidote.
Does it hurt you to see your loved ones suffering? The same goes for your loved ones when they see you suffering. Don’t lock yourself up in your room and avoid others. Let them in.
When a stressful event occurs, it is normal to feel some level of stress, anxiety, sadness or fear. It can take time for you to adjust to changes and return to a normal routine.