Great Youth Wellbeing: I feel moody most of the time. Is something wrong with me?

Moodiness

As a young person, you may be experiencing what all teenagers go through, puberty. Adolescence is a time of major hormone changes, leading to moodiness. Staying in this state for longer than two weeks and moving away from your norms (normal ways of being) could signify developing a well-being issue.

Next time you are feeling moody, do not judge yourself. Instead, become mindful and curious.

1. Are you your emotions?

2. Do your emotions define who you are?

You cannot fully control your thoughts and emotions, but you have the power not to let your emotions control you. Accept that emotions are part of you but do not define you. When you feel moody, zero in on what is going right in your life, even if it is something simple and ordinary.

Great Youth Wellbeing: Shyness

What can I do about my shyness?

There are several things to support shy teenagers in becoming more self-confident. If you want to overcome your shyness, it is first important to start "BEING" and stop "DOING" by judging yourself. Instead, start nurturing yourself from the inside out.

Start...

1. Identifying those things that you like about yourself.

2. Challenging the thoughts that you have about shyness.

Think!

1. What makes you believe that you are shy? Are you shy all the time or only under certain circumstances?

2. Is being shy necessarily a bad thing? Once feeling shy stops you from doing things you want and enjoy, this can bring about daily well-being issues.

3. Is there anything positive about shyness?

These are examples of questions to ask yourself. You will gain confidence by focusing on those aspects of yourself you feel good about.

Great Youth Wellbeing: Materialism (Keeping up with your friends)

Is there anything wrong with me buying things to keep up with my friends?

Most young people want to be trendy. They want to do what their friends are doing without considering the intentions and consequences of the other's actions. Relying on external things, such as spending money to make you feel better, can bring about financial and emotional well-being issues.

The answer to your questions is in your “why” or your intentions. Why is it important for you to have the fashions and trends your friends are involved in? Does having what your friends have made you feel better about yourself?

It is important to examine your intentions and to have compassion for yourself. Self-worth can never be achieved through materialism. The reason for this is that you are judging your self-worth through appearances. Instead, consider what you like about yourself and what makes you unique and celebrate that. If you do that, you will attract those who share your values.