Great Youth Wellbeing: Why should I learn to accept what is happening in my life?

Acceptance: Isn’t that giving up on myself?

The term acceptance is frequently misunderstood. Learning to accept does not mean that you do not fight for what you want. Rather, it means accepting things as they are at this moment. Most young people develop the habit of resisting or denying what is happening at the moment, especially when it's creating negative emotions. Instead of denying reality and using a lot of mental energy, knowing the difference between helpful and unhelpful situations might help you decrease some of the adversity you find yourself in.

What can be crucial is learning to accept the emotions that surge due to the circumstances you may find yourself. You will lose trying to fight your emotions. Wanting to suppress or deny your emotions can lead to well-being issues. Learning to observe and accept what is happening in your life while being judgment-free can take you to a whole new level. You can then get curious about how you can improve the situation.

Great Youth Wellbeing: What can I do when I am experiencing anxiety?

Anxiety

Anxiety is the emotion we experience when we are concerned about the future. We feel that we have no control over the situation. The teenage years are often filled with anxiety because of all the changes young people undergo during this time.

When experiencing anxiety, take time to become mindful of what you think and feel about the situation. BREATHE! Start questioning your beliefs about the situation. Are your beliefs realistic, or are they exaggerated? You then can focus on the things that you can control. Remember, you are always in control of how you respond to a situation.

Great Youth Wellbeing: I am feeling pressured by my friends to have sex. What should I do?

A big part of the teenage years is the need to fit in and be independent. The challenge is that these things can prevent you from considering the long-term consequences of your decisions. They also prevent you from focusing on what is right for you.

Rather than allowing peer pressure to get to you, you want to focus on having compassion for yourself. What do you feel is right for you? Also, consider the potential consequences of your decision. Those young people who are the happiest and most resilient are the ones who think for themselves instead of mirroring the unhelpful behaviours of their peers just to fit in.

Think ... Mind Emotional Nurturing!