Discovering You ~Teen Edition

 

Dear You, 

Do you know what brings you peace?

Do you know what makes you smile?

What makes you feel at ease?

What makes you happy?

Content?

Unique?

What are your likes and dislikes?

Who are you?

The power of knowing oneself is greater than anything out there. 

The deep connection, the fondness of knowing yourself as a whole is a feeling that can't be described as anything short of profound. 

I assume this is why at your age, not knowing who you are is frustrating. 

In the journey of finding who you are as an individual, you may stumble into what I call the Years of Uncertainty. 

It's the years where media deems it as 'Rebellious Teen Years', but it is more than that. 

It is the years when we are at the end of that structured life that our parents/guardians had made for us and on the brink of adulthood. 

It's the years when we are trying to dissect who we are from being So and So's child and who we really are. 

What we like and not what the adult that grew us up liked. What makes us, us. 

Mom and Dad or our Guardian have provided us with this guideline. This map of where we should go for 10 plus years and we were fine on that journey, but now, it's different because now you find that you might want to take another journey. Or, you want to experience something different on the journey. 

It's up to you now to figure it out. 

You know what you do not like and you may know what you do not want, but that doesn't mean you know fully who you are as of this new person. 

Your body has changed. Your mindset has changed. You're wiser than you were before and you see the world differently. 

All this is fine. 

All this is okay.

My advice to you is to not rush this process. 

Take your time in figuring out who you are. There isn't a deadline on this. 

Take the journey. 

Accept what you are good at and what you aren't good at. 

Just because everyone may be taking that path doesn't mean you would have to take it too. Find your groove and walk according to your pace. Then, work towards what you desire to have or be.

Discover who you are! Discover your boundaries and do not limit yourself when doing this. 

If you are uncomfortable doing something then, you are uncomfortable, do not force yourself.

People are going to swing in and out of your life as you grow, don't let them cause too much damage when they do. 

Set your standards and live by them at all cause. 

Shifting your mindset from school to the real world, you are going to find out that you have to stand on your two feet regardless of those around you because sometimes people will catch you, and sometimes they won't. 

In your journey to finding yourself, you may notice you are similar to others, just as much as you may be different from them. 

You may be odd. 

You may be even. 

But, in all things be true to yourself. 

When I was a teen, there were two things I wish I knew. These two things I am going to tell you and I hope they help you in your discovery.

1. It's Okay. You don't have to fret. You don't have to steam over with worry. It's okay and it's going to be okay. 

2. Don't rush it. Don't rush the process. Get to know every bit of you and love yourself. Trust yourself. 

Love your mind, your body, your pace!

Don't switch up on yourself! 

Love the mess, the broken parts because they do heal at some point in life. 

Don't give up on yourself at no cost. No matter what! 

So, with that said, take yourself seriously. Find out who you are. 

If you have to spend the time by yourself then do so. If you have to write, then grab your pen. If you have to experience situations or things, then go out into the world. If you need God to show you, then ask Him. 

Discover who you are on your terms. 

I hope you find yourself as imperfectly beautiful as God sees you.

~TheRay