One of the realities of growing up is being concerned with the bigger picture. You begin to think about your goals and your relationships with other people on a larger scale. You have a lot of questions on your mind, but are you asking the right ones? Grab a pen and paper and answer the questions below to help you do some soul-searching.
1. What am I good at? Insecurity comes from prioritizing other
people’s expectations of you rather than being confident in yourself. You may
lose your individuality while struggling to please other people all the time.
BUST
IT! Make a list of what you’re good at
and what you’re not so good at. Learn to develop your strengths and accept your
weaknesses. On a scale of 1 to 10, you may be a 3 in music but a 10 in sports.
Worrying about your weaknesses might minimize your strengths, so focus on your
10s instead to maximize your potential.
2.
Whose opinion matters? Whenever you encounter dilemma, whom do you turn to for advice? Friends
may be good listeners, but have you thought of turning to mom?
BUST IT! Develop a healthy, open relationship with your mom, your older sister,
or an older relative. Think about it, they were once teenagers like you and
might have gone through similar experiences. It’s easy to underestimate older
people’s advice, but hear them out. Instead of seeing them as cops out to spoil
the fun, develop friendlier relationship with them.
3.
What keeps me from doing something? Scared of making mistakes or being criticized for your
work? Fear will get you nowhere. A lot of unhappy people have let fear rule
their lives and end up never realizing their full potential.
BUST IT! Courage is not the absence of fear, but action
in the midst of fear. Remember a person is not a failure for doing so many that
did not work out. She only fails when she stopped trying. Consider mistakes as
lesson learned. Even the most successful people have failed on their way to
success.
4.
Why am I so stressed? School work, long exams, volleyball practice…the list goes on. If your
too busy to take a step back, how can you pinpoint what’s bothering you?
BUST IT! If your daily activities cause you stress, then take the time to think
about what you want to change. Are you still taking that ballet class your Mom
insists on even though your heart isn’t in them? Do you need more me time and
less gimmicks? Complaining will just waste your energy. Only change can relieve
stress!
5.
Who are my real friends? Remembering the people who’ve been with you through thick and thin will
not only give you an idea of who to call when you’ve got a problem, but will
also prevent you from taking them for granted.
BUST
IT! Develop friendships with people who
give you space to be yourself and room to make mistakes. Stick to those who
accept you for who you are, yet encourage you to change for the better.
Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you will push you on the road
to success.
6.
What makes me happy? Had a bad day? Don’t dwell on the negative aspects when times get
rough! Dwelling on sadness can keep you from focusing on the good things in
your life. And most of the time, the situation is not as bad as you think.
BUST IT! List down all the simple things that make you happy like listening to
your favorite songs on your iPod, receiving encouraging text from family and
friends, or even a nice cup of frappe with a delicious slice of cake on a hot
summer day. It’s good to keep a list to remind you to be thankful for the good
things you have – things you usually fail to appreciate. A grateful attitude makes a whole lot
difference!
7.
Who inspires me? Knowing
what you want in life and having role models give you more purpose. You begin
to see things on a broader scale and learn to customize your choices according
to your life goals.
BUST IT! Learn to choose your
role models. Find inspiration in their successes and how they made it to the
top. This way, it makes realizing your dreams easier to achieve. If other
people have made it, why can’t you?
8.
What do I need to change? Who doesn’t want to become better? If you find
yourself frequently stressed or irritable, it means you need to change
something.
BUST IT! Re-examine habits. Do you get things done on time? What makes you
impatient? Then start new habits to improve your disposition. It may take a lot
of time and effort, but it’s better than being a humbug. Remember: Change can
start from the little things you do every day.
9.
What do I need to let go of? Go through life with the excesses that weigh you down!
More than material things that you need to take out of your closet once in a
while, it’s usually emotional baggage that you need to let go of to live a happy
life.
BUST IT! Who needs emotional baggage? Learn to stop holding grudges against
people who have offended you. If you want real change in your life, why not be
the first to reach out and forgive?
10.
How can I be confident? Confidence is not a feeling you get. It may seem like other people have
it easy being confident in the things they do, but everyone has his or her own
share of insecurities and fears, no exceptions. It’s simply a matter of how to
deal with it.
BUST
IT! Can't let go of fear? Then do it even
though you’re afraid! It doesn’t matter if you’re scared or uncertain of
yourself. It may take a while, but that’s how you practice confidence! Each
time you decide to take a step out of your shy zone and simply get things done
is a step closer to a more confident you!
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