Becoming a Responsible Adult

The teenage years can be very difficult for many people. It is a rather awkward time in one’s life and the personality is forming from day to day. There are all types of pressures out there that teenagers can fall prey to and the day-to-day struggle of it all can be overwhelming to say the least. One of the important things for teenagers to do is to try and become comfortable with who they are. It’s a very difficult thing to do, especially in the face of others who may not accept you. The key is to promote individuality and at the same time, acceptance of others in teenagers. Should one be comfortable with who they are they will find the need to please others less and less important in their lives. Parents must take an active approach in trying to spend time with their teens and they must make it a point to help them become independent and autonomous individuals. Parents don’t have all the answers but they should make the effort of trying to guide their teens based on what they do know.

For teenagers themselves, it is important for them to realize that they can’t always please everyone. They need to become aware of the unpleasant reality that not everybody is going to like them. However, they should not feel discouraged by this as it is simply a fact of life. Going out of their way to try and gain the acceptance of others is often a lesson in futility so this should be pointed out to them. It is important for the teenager to feel unique and appreciate him or herself. Comparisons with others should be avoided because that will often lead to negative thinking. Being yourself is one of the hardest things you can do in this world but when you can do it the rewards are unlimited. You never have to feel as though you’ve compromised your individuality and you don’t have to worry about who your pleasing because those who really appreciate you won’t require the constant effort or reassurance.

Another thing that should be taught to teenagers is the importance of being honest and trying to do the right thing no matter how difficult it may be. By doing these things the teen will build a moral foundation from which he or she can always draw from in times of difficulty. Furthermore, honesty will go a lot further than dishonesty and deceit. It is essential that teens become aware of this because it will steer them through life. Teens should be taught to become independent and reliant on themselves because there are going to be times when you cannot rely on the help of others. It is imperative that a teen have some degree of autonomy and be able to negotiate the problems that must be decided on an individual level.