Hindsight is 20/20, right?
When it comes to doing anything — whether it’s baking a cake or learning to play the guitar or even planning a vacation, we all go in hoping for the best.
That doesn’t keep bad things from happening, though.
Oh crap, the cake is dry.
This guitar has SO many chords to learn.
This vacation is so NOT what I wanted or expected.
In my many years of experience, I’ve discovered it’s REALLY hard to avoid mistakes but there are some things I wish teenagers knew.
I want to save you some of the heartache and headache when it comes to knowing, liking and trusting yourself.
- It’s normal not to like yourself– yup! Controversial I know!We’re always learning and growing, which means there are going to be times we wish we were a little different than the way we are now.
- Thinking positive thoughts is not enough– you can say all the affirmations and think all the positive thoughts in the world, but if you don’t believe they are true- it’s not going to change anything for the better. In fact, it may make you feel even WORSE about yourself!
- Talking about it helps – when we talk about the things we feel insecure about, it doesn’t feel so scary. Sometimes saying the thoughts out loud helps us realize how ridiculous they sound.
The bottom line: everyone has felt insecure at some point!
Here are 3 things you can do to start liking yourself more today:
- Be kind to yourself – when you already don’t like who you are- it is SO easy to beat up on yourself. Send some kindness your way. Remind yourself that you’re human and it’s OK not to like yourself from time to time.
- Add “even though” to your negative thoughts – If the positive thoughts you’re trying to believe just aren’t jiving with you, add “even though to your negative thought first. “Even though I think I’m ugly, I’m a beautiful person” – that feels much more believable to me!
- Talk to a therapist – talking to a therapist about these things helps you get real, and talk about the “icky” things we think and feel with someone who genuinely cares about your well-being, and won’t judge you or make you feel bad for being a human being.
These tips will get you started but if you want to dive deeper — with a therapist like me, email us at help@mallorygrimste today. We love helping teens get connected!
Mallory Grimste, LCSW is a teen therapist with a counseling practice in Woodbridge, CT. She LOVES sharing her favorite coping skills, life hacks, and other mental health information to help teens live their best life. She’s here to help teens build confidenceand know that YOU are not alone!
The teens she works with are super motivated and work hard to get to a place where they can learn to know, love and trust themselves. To learn about Mallory Grimste, or the counseling services she offers, you can go to her website at: mallorygrimste.com
She also loves getting social – you can connect and follow her on Instagram (@mallorygrimste), Facebook (facebook.com/mallorygrimste) and YouTube (mallorygrimste.com/youtube) where she shares new videos on topics like this one every Thursday at 10am EST.
Mini-disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. The topics being discussed are meant as a self-help tool for your own use. It is not psychotherapy or counseling. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. If you need to speak with a professional, you should find one locally.
***IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY NUMBER OR GO TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.***
