Short messages on Relationships issues from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
People who exploit young people for sex want them to think they are a friend, or a boyfriend or girlfriend, to gain their trust to get power over them. They might use bribes, threats, humiliation and violence to get this power.
If your talk is negative, stop. If your talk is hurtful to another, stop. Change the topic. Gossiping only brings negativity into your life.
If you have been gossiped about, keep your head up and stay focused only on the things that truly matter. People will soon forget what they heard as there will always be a new topic of discussion.
Start being more polite to yourself, more loving, more kind and more forgiving. The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.
Start spending time with the right people – the people you enjoy, who love and appreciate you, and who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways.
If someone is trying to pass their bad mood to you, kindly say to yourself “no, thank you.” Do not accept their gift. Let it roll off you like water.
Try your best to respond with kindness. Often, someone else’s behaviour is not about you. Someone may be acting immaturely, hating or being rude, but if you can, try to let it go.
Tell people who gossip to you that you’re not interested in what they have to say to you about others if it’s negative.
If someone is quick to tell you things about other people, they will be just as quick to talk about you to others. The same people that gossip to you, will gossip about you.
If someone really cares about you they won’t put any pressure on you to have sex. If you don’t feel you can say no, ask yourself if you are really in a safe situation?