In this day and age, there is so much pressure put on young people to fit in, to live up to images on social media, and to dress or act in a certain way. Here's the thing; it's none of your business what other people think of you, and you should live your life the way you want, not in a way that fulfills other people's expectations of you!
Here are 5 tips to help you become more comfortable in your own skin, and to live each day to its fullest, on your own terms:
1. Don't be afraid to be silly! It might seem juvenile or immature, but it's so important to include humour in your daily life! I make myself laugh sometimes and I do my best to get my silly side out to make my 11 year old son laugh too! Sometimes it might be reciting an annoying ad or song, or making faces at him, putting on voices or making a joke.. if it makes him laugh, and it makes me laugh, it's a job done right. There's opportunities everywhere, you just have to keep an open mind.
2. Dress the way you want to! Don't dress as per the latest trend, or how your friends or family think you should dress - this is an important part of self-expression, and as long as you're not exposing too much of yourself inappropriately, get creative and you do you!
3. Use your voice! You have one, and it's meant to be used. As long as you're not hurting anyone else, use your voice to say what you think, express how you feel and share your opinion. You've only got one opportunity to be the age you are right now and us your voice with those around you. Nobody else can do that for you.
4. Listen to music, get creative and express yourself the way you want to. Everyone needs some kind of creative outlet and music and art is a fantastic way to express your thoughts, your ideas and your imagination, instead of speaking them. This is so personal to you, and you don't need to consult anyone as to how you use art, create art and consume art.
5. Educate yourself! This is so important and the beauty is, there's so many different ways to do it! Get interested in something and find a way to learn more. These days there are more than just books - watch a doco, listen to a podcast, read, listen to an audio book, look up websites and blogs, and use what you're learning to empower yourself. There's no better way to invest in yourself than by investing in your own education - the best part is, you're in charge of your passions and what you choose to learn!
The bottom line is, your life, your business. What makes another human better than you? We are all living our lives, we are on our own journeys and we should be in charge of that, living with confidence, a smile on our face and always looking for ways to make ourselves laugh.
Liz Michelle - teachingbrave.com
My name is Elizabeth - I’m a single mum, early childhood teacher and child care director. I also have a blog (teachingbrave.com) where I have early childhood related content, my money journey from broke single mum to now thriving financially, and parenting tips. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.
