Choose Happiness

Happiness is truly a choice we make in our daily lives. Yes, you may be angry or frustrated at times, but there really is no point of losing your happiness over something that will pass in time. It is difficult to overcome and solve problems throughout the day but keep choosing happiness. One way to keep you happy is to be around happy people who choose to allow themselves to not take things personally all the time. Focus on what you have now and work with it. It’s so important to appreciate the people around us that support our decisions and allow us to be the best version of ourselves.

  So, to my beautiful angels, I hope you choose happiness not only this week but forever!

Emotional Awareness

Emotions are an interesting feeling especially as a teenager. That is when emotions hit you the most. There are two different types of emotions; the positive and the negative. Some positive feelings are happy, loving, confident, inspired and some negative emotions are angry, afraid, ashamed, guilty and worried. Feeling both is absolutely normal. Once you feel different emotions it is important to be aware of those feelings. Sometimes it may seem as if you don’t know what you're feeling but you know in your gut there is something wrong and that’s normal. Don’t be afraid of not knowing. At times, emotions are difficult to accept but don't ignore feelings. It is healthier to acknowledge what you are feeling rather than hiding them. According to teenshealth.org, “Avoiding negative feelings or pretending we don't feel the way we do can backfire. It's harder to move past difficult feelings and allow them to fade if we don't face them and try to understand why we feel that way. You don't have to dwell on your emotions or constantly talk about how you feel. Emotional awareness simply means recognizing, respecting, and accepting your feelings as they happen.” Emotions are tricky, at times good and bad but being aware of those emotions as they occur is healthier than dwelling in the past. So Angels, I hope that this will encourage you to understand your feelings and move past it!

 

Have a positive week, Angels!

Snooze! Just 10 more minutes!

Hate it when your parents say, “go to sleep” or “time for school?” Well, scientifically teenagers bodies are programmed to go to bed late and wake up late due to a release of melatonin later in the day than adults. It is healthy for teenagers to get at least 8 hours of sleep but it’s kind of hard to do that when you go to sleep at 11 p.m.  According to Dr. Michael Brues, clinical psychologist, lack of sleep can cause “lower grades in school, poor concentration, moodiness, and poor performance in athletics.”

Here are some tips for a healthier school year!

Stay on a routine of going to bed and waking up at the same time every day including weekends.

One hour before your bed, no electronic devices but rather read a book or magazine.

Stay away from caffeine after 4 p.m.

Your bed is only for sleeping; don’t do your homework in bed.

Try not to hit the snooze button in the morning.

It really is just finding your balance and seeing what works for you. Sleep is so important for teens/tweens because you become more aware of your surroundings and you’re just in a better mood! Hope this blog helps you through your school, Angels!

Have a snooze-free week!

-ModAngel

Sticks & Stones…Let’s Face It - Words Do Hurt.

Teens and tweens, no matter what era in history, have always encountered bullying. From the playground to the bus stop, kids have either been the victim, been a bystander, or even been the aggressor. However, things seem to be changing. Cyber bullying has become a prevalent issue and an epidemic spreading across the nation.

So what is bullying exactly? Bullying is an aggressive behavior that involves power imbalance through verbal, social and/or physical hostility. One of the most common reasons for bullying at the teen and tween age groups is based around physical appearance. Not only is this behavior hurtful to the victim in the present, but it can also have serious and long term affects on a person as well.

The problem with cyber bullying is that most of the time it is not an overt public ordeal. The harassing is done behind closed doors, in private, making it hard for authoritative figures, such as teachers, principals, and parents to stop the bullying. Without “big brother” watching over these young kids in cyber space, it is easy for a bully to get away unscathed without having to suffer any consequences. So how do we stop the cruelty?

According to www.stopbullying.com, there are four responses to know.

1. Stop Bullying on the Spot: Adults need to respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior, teaching that it is not acceptable.

2. Find Out What Happened: Determine the best way to approach that conversation.

3. Support the Kids Involved: Knowing that there is support is comforting to a child, which reminds them that they are not alone.

4. Be More Than a Bystander: Parents, and other kids especially, see bullying every day, but learning how to approach a bully safely, can make a huge difference in the victims confidence, self-esteem, safety, and livelihood.

These methods can be applied to bullying on the playground or in cyber space. As parents, keeping a watch on your child’s behavior is important. If you notice something is wrong with your teen or tween, ask. If something is wrong, take action and teach your angels how to properly handle the situation.

Have a beautiful and bully-free week Angels!

-Mod Angel

For more detailed information about bullying, visit www.stopbullying.com