1. Be kind to others. Smile at strangers. This can make their day, as well as your own, ten times better. Always wear a smile on your face, even if there isn’t something particularly exciting happening. If you hold the door for someone and communicate a small thanks, who knows how this small action could positively affect that person's day and yours. You can find inner peace from helping others and giving them the greatest gift: kindness. It is important to take every pinch of happiness you feel and spread it among others. When you are kind towards others, it makes both you and them happier.
2. Take alone time. Your alone time is when you allow yourself to dig deep into your mind. No matter what you’re doing, whether it’s watching shows or reading books, escape from your thoughts for a moment and focus on what is directly in front of you. Temporarily distract yourself from any present troubles. Another way of spending alone time is to go on a walk. When you walk alone, it’s just you, your mind, and nature. There is a natural and soothing feeling when walking outdoors. You can think through things without any of your surroundings to distract or influence you. Spending alone time can allow you to either ignore a problem or create a clear solution to a problem; it is up to you. Even if there's nothing bothering you, it is important to have that alone time just to separate yourself from others and understand who you are.
3. Love yourself enough to be yourself. You hear “be yourself” and “be different” all the time, but when will you actually start doing it? If you truly love yourself and embrace every single one of your quirks, then you will love yourself enough to simply be you. It is often difficult to completely be yourself and ignore peer pressure, but you should understand that in the real world, there are rarely any popularity games. You don’t want to spend your whole life acting like someone you aren’t. If you’re ever pressured into a situation and start doing or saying something you usually wouldn’t, find your way back to yourself by focusing on your values. Know yourself well enough to differentiate between right and wrong, and don't apologize for who you know you are.
4. Put yourself first. In any relationship, you should show how much you care about a friend or a partner, but it is just as important to be cognizant of your limits and draw the line. This is directed primarily towards the kind, outgoing, trying-to-please-everyone type. No single person can please everyone. If you are left in an uncomfortable situation and have the physical and verbal abilities to do something about it, you should explain yourself by making it crystal clear to the person you are with. Don’t allow yourself to ignore their actions or become a duplicate of their negative influence. Also, don’t say “yes” to something you know you shouldn’t. Do what’s best for you. It isn’t selfish. You should always protect yourself.
5. Listen to others. People always say listen, listen, listen, but are you truly paying attention? When someone is sharing a funny story with you, we are often reminded of our own similar stories and interrupt them. At least, I've noticed that I tend to do so unintentionally. You should show the person speaking to you that you that you care about what they have to say. If they are sharing something personal, listen to the words coming out of their mouth and really try to understand how they feel. Showing that you care by just sitting silently and listening is sometimes the best way to help a friend. They are choosing to talk to you about a personal matter. You should let them know that they have your full attention, and they will genuinely appreciate it. You will gain their trust, and they may rely on you to be there for them if another situation comes up.
6. Be reliable. Continuing from #5- listening to others- it is extremely important to keep secrets a secret. Sounds simple, eh? It doesn’t matter how small or big the secret; trust is the foundation of any relationship. In teenagers who feel the pressure to be “cool," people gossip about others to try to fit in. You want the people you're talking to to like you and you want them to think you’re cool, so you say something that'll catch their attention. We all hold some secrets. Think about one that only a few people know and how you’d feel if anyone else found out. Imagine this scenario in your mind whenever you feel tempted to speak negatively about someone.
