If you’re facing a serious illness, allow yourself to grieve for what has been lost (your independence, certain abilities, your long-term future, etc.), and don’t discount the coping releases of a hearty laugh and a shoulder to cry on.
If you’re starting a new job, try to prioritise completing tasks that complement your existing skills (so you can feel good about doing them well), and that allow you to build a rapport with your new co-workers.
Your brother or sister may turn out to be your best friend someday. Many siblings fight and compete with each other while growing up but become very close when they get older. As you grow up, your friends might change, but your family is yours forever.
All children want attention from their parents, but sometimes you need to take turns. If you’re feeling ignored, talk to your parents. If a parent knows you’re feeling left out, together you can figure out ways to help you feel better again.
If you’re going out on your own for longer than you usually would, or walking somewhere you don’t know well, plan ahead and keep safety in mind. Let someone know where you’re going and for how long, and take a fully charged ‘phone with you.
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.