The Journey Through Adolescence 559.1
One of the toughest jobs in the world is being a teenager. Everything is in transition. Everything is intense -- even apathy.
Kids on the brink of adulthood have to cope with inconsistencies and conflicts. The desire to be special and different clashes with the need to belong and fit in. The desire for independence collides with an aversion to self-reliance and personal responsibility.
Here are five suggestions for improving the journey through adolescence:
1. Be yourself. Mindless conformity is a prison. Express yourself authentically and don’t be afraid to stand out. But don’t dress or behave in extreme ways just to be different or to prove you can. You don’t need orange hair, a nose ring, or tattoos to be special. In the end, it’s more important to be respected than noticed.
2. Don’t expect too much or settle for too little. Don’t expect anyone else to make you happy, but don’t allow others to treat you badly either. Hang out with people who bring out the best in you, and be the kind of person who brings out the best in others.
3. Responsibility is a privilege, not a penalty. Dependability and self-reliance are the tickets to freedom and independence. Don’t waste energy resisting what you have to do. Win others’ trust by doing what you should do.
4. Think ahead. Every act has a consequence. The choices you make today will shape tomorrow. Pleasure lasts for a moment, but happiness lasts much longer. Just because it feels good doesn’t make it good.
5. Take charge of your life. Your life is your ship. Be the captain, not a passenger. Figure out what needs to be done to improve your life and make it happen. Your attitudes are more important than your aptitudes. You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control what happens in you. Don’t whine, win.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Comments
Thank you for your commentary Michael. I'm going to print it out and have my son read it. I will also read it to my youth Sunday School class. If every child heard this on a regular basis, perhaps some of the entitlement mentality you previously talked about would fade away.
Posted by: David | March 21, 2008 10:55 AM
Another great lesson for my class in Freshman Seminar. I hope you don't mind. I sincerely believe that it truly inspires thought in some of my students. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: coach | March 21, 2008 12:02 PM
Thank you - I am going to post this on my refrigerator for both my teens
Posted by: karen | March 21, 2008 2:00 PM
I know that this was written for adolescents. HOWEVER, I am taking a copy to our next Women's Bible Study! I lead a wide range of ages and I think this material is applicable to everyone!!
Posted by: kathi | March 21, 2008 2:14 PM
Heard your broadcast today and I'm sending it to my teenage daughter. Thank you for saying this so well.
Posted by: LCR | March 21, 2008 5:26 PM
Thank you for putting time and effort into sorting through ethics and morals. These seem to be difficult subjects and I am grateful that some people are willing to take them on and write about them.
Thanks:}
April
Posted by: April | March 21, 2008 6:10 PM
Appreciate the thoughts you put into this piece. I will be reading it to a gathering of adolescents celebrating their accomplishment.
Thank you for what you do everyday and for the institute.
Asela
Posted by: Asela | March 22, 2008 8:55 AM
Although you've titled this The Journey Through Adolescence, the guidelines you list seem to apply just as well to The Journey Through Life.
Posted by: Michael Miller | March 22, 2008 1:41 PM
Thank you for what you do.
Posted by: Quoc Dinh | March 23, 2008 1:02 PM
I used to listen to your comments on the radio every morning and enjoyed them so much. Then the station which had them changed their format and I could not find them again. Now that I have found them on the Internet, I read them every morning as my uplifting message for the day. Thank you so much for these comments and keep up the wonderful work
Posted by: Mary | March 27, 2008 12:16 PM
Excellent commentary on why men choose to cheat on their wives. Whether a wife is doing her part as a help-mate or not doesn't give a husband the right to choose to break his oath and vows said to her at the altar. For that matter, the wife has the same choice. The vow was said by both. Thank you for your faithfulness to challenge character in each of us. I will read your statement to my college students in the Family Living course I am presently teaching. Gratefully,
Posted by: Glenda Hotton | March 27, 2008 9:38 PM
Very well put! I'd like to share this list with my after-school class which focuses on character devlopment.
Posted by: L. Segraves | March 28, 2008 3:17 AM
Thank you for breaking this down into great group discussion topics for h.s. The most confusing part of the process for teens is the inconsistencies they see from parents and role models. I hear this from them in every discussion. It is difficult to know how to respond without offending a parent or role model. Suggestions?
Posted by: Suzette | March 28, 2008 8:19 AM