If you move away from labelling someone as being inherently ‘bad’ and beyond redemption, this gives you and them the space to behave in better ways.
Instead of thinking of someone as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, think of them as sometimes being ‘in-balance’ and sometimes ‘out-of-balance’. Everyone is capable of both.
When you reflect on your day or week, make sure you can say “I am glad I did that” rather than “I wish I’d done that”.
Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power.
Everyone makes mistakes each day – so allow yourself to. Recognise the failure and turn it into an opportunity to create something better, which will build trust and respect with others.
Don’t let your own pride ever get in the way of asking for help, whatever age you are. No-one is expecting you to be perfect at everything, and some will be expecting you to ask for help if you need it.
Spend more time sharing the good news than gossiping about the bad. Notice the effect it has on your mood and the quality of your relationships.
If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart. Give yourself the confidence to try.
If you don’t want to do something that your friends want you to do, you can choose not to do it. You shouldn’t have to do anything that you don’t want to do. If they are really your friends they should respect you and not make you do things that make you uncomfortable.
Peer pressure is feeling like you have to do something just because all your friends are doing it. It’s okay to say no and make your own choices.