Is there such a thing as life coaching for teenagers? How many of us actually listened to advice we got when we were in our teenage years? Being a teenager can be really difficult. It’s the time of life where you are dealing with so much change, in your whole life. It can be a traumatic time of evolution in your lifetime. You are developing and progressing from childhood to adulthood.
Teenage or adolescence is the period from the beginning of puberty to adulthood i.e. from the age of thirteen to nineteen.
It’s that time again, when I’m reflecting on recent events and conversations where I’m even more empowered to get people to consider self-improvement. I was talking with a teenager whose life seems to be a mix of ups and downs. For her life seems to be a mix of new beginnings and some new crises. It seems her life is one big roller coaster ride.
I know that she’s got to look forward. What goals and dreams she plans to guide her life around? What’s the one thing she needs to change about herself in the coming year? What she wants to make out of her life?
This particular teenage girl is blooming into a wonderful caring women but she is trying to make so many important decisions. Being 18 it is a time of life where so much of your future rests on your decisions that you make at this time.
She has a tough time. She is generally happy yet discontented, ambitious but with low self-esteem, loved still feeling unloved, full of plans but so afraid.
She’s finding it a difficult time of adjustments. First and foremost she’s dealing with bodily changes. The right look and peer pressure affects her state of mind which results in massive mood swings. She’s also handling the pressure of exams and attempting to find a place in university. On top of that there’s learning to drive a car, and establishing herself with the right crowd and determine exactly what career path she wants to take.
She is dealing with so many puzzling questions and she’s terrified of getting things wrong. She’s very fragile and vulnerable.
She needs a sounding board, someone who can give her support and encouragement.
Someone to ask the right empowering questions for her to think about, such as:
- If you could make one real change to your life today, what would you change?
- How would your life be different, if you made this change?
- What is the first step you need to make to start this change?
She needs to be reminded that she is still only at the beginning of her life. That it is crucial that she develops a belief in herself and comes to recognise her strengths and talents. Once she does then she will clearly be able to see her direction in life.
Like many other teenagers she needs the support and encouragement of others to help her overcome what seems to be the greatest problem area and that is self-limiting beliefs and low self-esteem.
Her negative expectations will limit the level of success she can achieve. She has to understand the power of self-fulfilling prophecy, in that when we tell ourselves something will happen, we alter our actions subconsciously so that we behave consistently with our beliefs or expectations of ourselves.
I see that often a low self esteem is caused by ones inner thoughts being based on what others think of you and the setbacks that you experience in life to this point already. Peer pressure can be so disempowering, and the images we see in magazines and on television make us set out to be something that is incredibly hard to achieve. Back this up with the cruelty and stupidity of others in our age group, where often words are used in a negative way, calling others stupid, fat, lazy, worthless, or whatever it may be, this also seems to resonate in a teenagers mind, and often makes them believe these comments. Never let others influence you to see bad within yourself. If you know you are doing the right things, then be proud, and laugh at the stupidity of others. Don’t give their words power over you.
I see life coaching as a wonderful, supportive process to help the self development of teenagers. I know that life coaching helps teenagers enormously as they enter this period of evolution. Life coaching can provide guidance for Teens and it is motivational, positive, exciting, and action-driven. It is a process that helps teens see where they are now and identify where they want to go. It involves making a plan involving achievable goals as well as the support, structure, and guidance needed to make it happen. One of the main strengths of life coaching for teens is helping them to believe in themselves and get excited about their future.
Life Coaching inspires teenagers to learn more about themselves, their choices and their life goals. It can be particularly effective in helping with low self-esteem and confidence levels.
Don’t worry, being a teen can be rough but you will make it through, and your life can see you fulfilling all your dreams.
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