It’s hard to rock the boat;
It’s taking you nowhere;
Yet you challenge any opportunity for change.

It’s a miserable existence;
Breathing, but not living.

The toughest journey is changing course
To an unknown destination.

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Neuroplasticity, a concept in neuroscience, refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. When it comes to learning from mistakes, every time we “mess up”, our brain goes through a process of rewiring.

In the adolescent years, the brain undergoes significant changes, particularly in the prefrontal cortex – the area responsible for decision-making, problem-solving, and social interactions – probably why we “mess up” so much. And, as we teenagers navigate this huge mess, our brains are highly responsive to new experiences, learning, and emotional development, to avoid the said “mess” in the adult years.

Traditionally, being a teenager is a sliver of overlap between what a child can’t do and what an adult can’t do. But the above very scientific reason opens a new door: what a teenager CAN do. And that, my friends, is “mess up”. It is a fundamental opportunity to shape and mould our lives in ways that set the stage for the future.

Here are some ways to get you started:

Embracing Independence
Craft your own superhero story – cape optional
One of the scariest yet most liberating gifts of our teenage years is the gradual inheritance of independence. It’s a time when making decisions for ourselves seem less embarrassing than relying on our parents to dictate our lives. These choices, however overwhelming, can also be so liberating. Remember, it is okay to make mistakes, provided you learn from them.
A little tip: When choosing your narrative, do not try to be someone else.

Building Relationships
Choosing the supporting characters
As you change, so does the world around you. It is usually in this season when challenges that make-or-break relationships show themselves. Friends are the pillars of support that will get you through these years, so keep them close and keep them safe. Surround yourself with people who understand and value you.
Another little tip: Friendships and relationships don’t have to be inversely proportional.

Putting Safety First
Superheroes wear suits, too!
Teenage years will see you exposed to many, many new things – from driving to drugs. The skill here is to differentiate between “slay” and “stop”. Do not ever do anything you are not fully comfortable with, and don’t ever hesitate to ask for help should you need it. Remember, some mistakes are not worth making.

Living our best life requires a willingness to take charge. So, at the end of the day, it really is up to you — it is up to you how you want to live your life!

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Habits are the building blocks of our daily lives. They are mental shortcuts created from repeated experiences, helping us navigate the world efficiently. According to James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, small changes in our daily routines can lead to significant transformations. His philosophy revolves around the idea of becoming 1% better every day, illustrating that tiny improvements can compound into remarkable results over time. The question then arises: What kind of person do you want to become? Here’s a guide for teenagers to incorporate essential habits into their lives to build a strong foundation for the future.

Good Sleep Habits

Getting enough sleep is crucial for physical health, mental clarity, and emotional stability. Teenagers, in particular, need 8-10 hours of sleep each night to support their developing brains and bodies. To establish good sleep habits:
Set a Consistent Bedtime and Wake-Up Time: Regular sleep schedules help regulate your body’s internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up.
Create a Bedtime Routine: Engaging in calming activities such as reading, listening to soothing music, or practising relaxation techniques can signal your brain that it’s time to wind down.
Limit Screen Time Before Bed: The blue light emitted by screens can interfere with your sleep cycle. Aim to avoid screens at least an hour before bedtime to promote better sleep quality.

Keep Your Room Neat and Tidy

A clean and organized space can significantly improve focus and reduce stress. Here are some tips to keep your room tidy:
Make Your Bed Every Morning: Starting your day with this simple task sets a productive tone and gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Declutter Regularly: Spend a few minutes each day tidying up to prevent clutter from piling up. Regular decluttering helps maintain an organized environment.
Designate Spots for Essential Items: Having specific places for your belongings helps you find things easily and keeps your space organized.

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Chetan Bhagat’s 11 Rules For Life is a compelling guide that offers practical advice on how to navigate life’s challenges and achieve personal growth.

Through a blend of personal anecdotes, insightful observations, and actionable tips, Bhagat presents a roadmap for readers to level up in various aspects of their lives. Whether it’s setting goals, cultivating positive habits, or fostering meaningful relationships, this book provides valuable insights that can help readers lead a more fulfilling life.

Bhagat’s conversational writing style makes the book easy to read and relatable, making it a must-read for teenagers looking to make positive changes in their life.

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People in Japan are fond of keeping plants in their houses. As houses in Japan are relatively smaller, they have developed bonsai plants — miniatures of large plants. In fact, bonsai plants look like dwarfed copies of real plants. Cutting and trimming the plant roots produces these plants.

The bonsai experiment has been carried out on crocodiles. Crocodiles hatched from two eggs from the same parents, possessing the same genes, were subjected to different environments in which to grow. One was kept confined to a small tank and the other was left free to grow in a large lake. Over time, the crocodile in the lake grew to be a healthy, giant crocodile and the one in the tank had a comparatively dwarfed growth.

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As I open my eyes to the gentle rays streaming into my room, I am excited. The solitude and quiet of the early morning hours allows me to appreciate that I am alive, I have a new day with immense joy and opportunity ahead of me. A wave of peace rushes over me followed by a thought: How could I extrapolate that peaceful feeling to those around me — to my family, my neighbours, my community, my country and my planet? It’s not that difficult to do things a little differently.

Come to think of it, human beings have been able to avoid extinction because we can change. Change is the only constant. Adaptability is what we have in abundance. A sense of hope fills me as I envision a peaceful world, one that is accepting. A world where judgement is left in courtrooms where opinions are not impulsive and latitude for expression is gracefully given. A world which is inclusive, where differences are viewed with wonder and curiosity rather than suspicion and fear. The first step would be to cut out the noise, the verbosity, to communicate with empathy and not ego. To communicate simply without jargon and ambiguity. To communicate, to create, not to destroy.

The duality of our present is a bit perplexing. We have a million words for social media but very few for our friends. It is easier for us to make excuses rather than ask for help. We spend time on the construction of our sentences rather than thinking about the consequences they will have. In a world of emojis and short messages, we have clearly lost sight of the longer story.

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Tiny Leaps, Big Changes focuses on habits you can develop in your everyday life to lead to a bigger change. This personal development podcast focuses on exploring the day-to-day behaviours we all engage in that determine the results we gain. It covers topics such as learning new skills, consistent improvement, eating healthier, managing anxiety, overcoming perfectionism, beating procrastination, etc. Hosted by Gregg Clunis, the show shares simple strategies you can implement to start moving towards your goals.

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The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the “extra”. It’s what changes the world. Yet many stick around being ordinary because they’re unaware of how much “extra” is needed and how capable they are of offering it. If only you knew what you were capable of and deployed your capacities to be the best version of who you were meant to be.

Have you experienced being in a zone or spot that felt like you were standing at the end of the road? There was nothing ahead of you (at least this is what you thought at that time)? No ideas, no path, no answers. Just a lurking question mark mocking you, “What are you going to do now? Give up?”

What did you do then?

Kaizen (Japanese for “good change”), thrives on the core philosophy that adversities are, in fact, moments of opportunity, to change what has ceased to work and ring in what will. Keeping the faith in hope, conviction and action. All Kaizen asks for is change. This amendment can be momentary or ongoing; massive or small. Kaizen contends that if you don’t change the status quo from time to time, you may not survive.

Why so much focus on change?

Newton’s Law of Inertia insists that if an object is in a state of motion or rest, it will continue to stay in that state of motion or rest unless it is acted upon by an external force that changes its status quo by accelerating or decelerating it. But look around and at yourself. Can you stay in the same state forever? Aren’t there too many changes taking place around you?

Circumstances, friendships, relationships, career, family, education and more… It’s impossible to maintain your status quo when external forces trying to modify you are so powerful. Technologies, trends, politics, and above all people, are ever transforming. It is increasingly important to integrate with the ebbs and flows, to experience delight, adventure and growth in life. Nothing is possible without embracing change.

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Millions of extraordinary people are doing amazing things, quietly putting in hard work to improve lives and make a real difference in our world. And still more impressive is that these heroes are anonymous and humble grassroots warriors. They are driven solely by passion, not by hope or promises of fame or recognition. Their courage and optimism are an inspiration for their generation.

These are the people making progress possible. Their selfless spirit of social service imparts purity to the mission and helps translate development policies into real ground action. They are using their talents to fight poverty, hunger and disease and create opportunities for future generations. The world is a better place because of what they do. What shines through is their resilience, integrity, and depths of their empathy. These tiny revolutions may not command great attention, but in merit, they may equal or exceed the more significant and conspicuous actions of those with more freedom and power. The test is what people do.

Social change flows from individual efforts. Many revolutionary movements have sprung from smaller beginnings. A lot of progress can come from more minor advances. Thousands of lesser improvements that build upon one another can represent an enormous advance for society.

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“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” — Rumi

We are awash in change — it is everywhere we look. And it is the only constant.

The rate of change we have experienced over the last hundred years is unprecedented. For thousands and thousands of years, humans have moved no faster than a man could walk. Then for thousands more, it was no faster than a horse. Then in a few short decades, we developed trains, cars, planes, and rocket ships. Now, communication occurs at the speed of light.

What is important for us is how fast we adapt to changes. Instead of dreading change, we must try to find comfort in it. This mindset can assuage anguish and help us move forward.

Those who are deeply rooted in traditions are quite likely to be resistant to change. The traditionalists are pessimists about the future and optimists about the past. The temptation to use tradition as a cover for prejudice and conformity, accompanied by a refusal to change or stretch, manifests itself quite stubbornly because it has become our nature.

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