Dear teenagers,

This open letter to you can be the key with which you can open several doors — doors leading to success, and a fulfilling life.

Let me ask you a few questions:

DO you think that you are a capable, smart and a meritorious teenager?
ARE you ready to face life head-on and embark on your journey towards the future?
DO you think that you are better than several others you know in your network?
DO you want to succeed in life?
DO you dream of a life that gives you complete happiness?
DO you wish to travel around the world? Have a wonderful house and live happily with a loved one?
HOWEVER, are you feeling a bit unsettled and confused now? Perhaps, even a bit confused?
ARE you afraid of facing the future?

If the answer to most or all of the above questions is YES, then this letter is certainly meant for YOU!

You must be learning a lot these days; observing, listening and processing a lot of information, and the source of this info could be:

• Your parents telling you that you are simply the BEST and that your place shall be amongst the stars! Or reversely, some telling you that you are STUPID, useless and that you won’t accomplish much in your life.
• Many ideas must be forming and desires taking birth from the K-dramas or content appealing to you on OTT platforms.
• You must be observing a lot happening in the lives of your peers, classmates and friends.
• You must be watching your favourite actors or sports stars and role models living luxurious lifestyles, making you envious of them.

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If you can do the same thing a little later on with more dedication, commitment, quality and a clearer mindset, why not put it on the backburner? Why sacrifice something that is even more important for you right now for something that could be done in a better way, later on? Why put your future on hold for something that you aren’t even sure you want as your future? Take a breather. Count till a thousand. You now have all the time in the world. Take your time, weigh your options, interests, priorities. Get back to the grind, and give it your all.

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Life has taught me that every experience counts and that there is always a chance to begin anew. We don’t always need someone to guide us or show us the right path; there is a power within us that can help us decide what is right or wrong. Listening to yourself is what we need to get attuned to. When we feel we are on the wrong track and are uncomfortable, we need to stop and challenge ourselves to change direction, and move on. It’s not so hard, neither is it so very easy; but if the Almighty, the Creator who created you, is with you, nothing is impossible.

“Everything will be alright,” we hear people say. Do you believe it when you are frustrated or angry… but stay calm and hear that voice within that gives you the power to move on? Things will take time as your outlook won’t be the same. But are you ready to be with yourself and help yourself become a better version of yourself?

There is a story of a man who lived in front of a mountain and knew that there were possibilities on the other side. He began chiselling through the mountain every day until he was able to make a path to walk through and avail of the facilities on the other side. He believed that he could and that his Creator was with him. His hard work opened up new avenues for all the people in his town, helping many become prosperous.

We must have faith in the Creator and trust the process because He helps those who strive for a better future.

The post I know that it’s possible appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Nostalgic memories are a powerful state of mind;
Beautiful memories that put smiles on our faces,
Memories that let us stay pure at heart.
From leaving someone for our happiness
To leaving someone for their happiness,
We all grew up.

The harsh reality of our future
Did not taint our innocence then.
Building sandcastles, we grew up with them.
Somewhere between broken pencil
And erased dreams,
We all grew up.

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Have you ever considered the fact that the most powerful tool you possess is your mind which determines your success or failure? Only you can access your mind, and use it whatever way you want. You are the master of your mind. It can assist you to reach incredible heights. The situation you’re facing today can be made different and better tomorrow if you but make up your mind.

The way your mind works matters more than anything else in your life. Your mind causes good or bad things in your life depending on the kind of mind you have. From a positive mind will issue good things such as good relationships, opportunities and accomplishments in your life. On the other hand, a negative mind produces negative things such as bad company, frustrations and obstacles. But if you believe and keep saying that you can’t achieve something then you’re most unlikely to achieve it.

When Arunima Sinha was on her way to Delhi from Lucknow she met with a tragedy. She was pushed out of the running train when she resisted some robbers who tried to snatch her gold chain. She lost her left leg as the train ran over it. During her hospitalization she made up her mind that, with her amputated leg, she would one day climb Mount Everest. The rest is history. On 21 May 2013, at the age of 23, Arunima became the first amputee ever to conquer the summit of Mount Everest! Before she could physically scale the Everest peak, she had already scaled the Everest of her mind while lying in her hospital bed.

Your future is replete with innumerable possibilities. First set your goal in your mind and then work towards turning it into reality. Believe in your power to sculpt your future. Take some time to think about how you can channel your mind, where you focus it. If you concentrate on your problems, those problems will grow. If you focus your mind on possibilities, if you put it on your potential, you can get your mind to work it all out in your favour. If you can visualise your dream in your mind, and if you can believe in it with your heart and have the courage to articulate it, then you can translate it into reality.

This issue of The Teenager Today features articles that will help you take charge of your mind and work towards achieving your goals in life.

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Work like the ants, hard and steady,
Challenges will come; you must be ready.
The lightning will strike; storms will rage,
You must fight with faith and with courage.

Move like the wind; swift and fast,
Bad days are temporary, they will never last,
Rise up now, get inspiration from nature;
Rise up today, towards the future!

The post Rise up! appeared first on The Teenager Today.

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Dear Payal,

Looks like you do know what you want — but your friends’ advice seems to have put you in a dilemma.

One of the ways relationships affect our present, and consequently our future is when we have unhealthy relationships. When a relationship comes along, we may be so attracted that we make the other person the centre of our lives and neglect all other things — studies, friends, family, career and personal growth. This becomes unhealthy when we begin to emotionally depend on the other person to fulfil all our needs. It is like putting all one’s eggs (hopes, dreams, needs) into one basket and when the basket falls, all the eggs shatter. A good thing to do now is to focus on being friends. It can be a special friendship but let it not be your only friendship. Do introduce him to your parents and your friends. Take things slow and steady… there is no rush.

Ensure that you focus equally on your studies and career, have your family time, time with other friends — which he may or may not be a part of. All of these are equally important. This may mean that you sometimes say ‘No’ to him (also permit him to say ‘No’ to you). If he truly cares, he will accept and support you.
If you are able to keep this balance and have a healthy relationship, you will be happy and have a promising future.

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One day someone asked me the same question, again. I went into a deep thought and curiosity. The memory tape in my brain which had a record of all those moments when I was asked about my future plans was rolling in front of me. As I watched the 6-year-old me saying, “I’ll be a teacher, a doctor, a dancer, a singer and an artist”, I thought, “It doesn’t seem stupid anymore.”

I asked my mother once, “Should I be a writer?” She said, “Of course, you can do it.” I hesitated but still said, “I want to take up writing as my hobby and occupation both.” And all I got as a response from my mother was that I was stupid and that writing was a mere hobby and it won’t get me anything to “survive”.

Someone once told me that it was not difficult to earn money. I agree, because living your dream is what is difficult. Today, we (the youth) are better off in comparison to the present time mid-agers (our parents) when they were young. They did not have as many options that we have today. But we have opportunities which were not there back in the past so we can follow our dreams. But the problem comes when we have to choose our future. Our elders want us to earn money, get married and settle down.

What’s the point of doing the same thing every day you’re not even interested in or you are not passionate about? Alright, it may not be the same for everyone but still there are people in our life who will always nag you about not being wealthy enough. Why listen to those who tell us to have a clear-cut-tunnel-view right from our childhood? Walking on the same road everybody (our parents and their parents) walked on is not the thing of today’s youth. Why not give us some space and let us explore the highest skies and the deepest oceans. Let’s stop fearing that we might get lost because even if we do get lost we’ll try finding our way and become bolder, wiser, and stronger in this cruel world.

No work is of high or low standard. The only difference is whether what you do is creative or not, and if you are satisfied and happy with what you do. And that’s something we can call ‘priceless’.

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We try, we cry… we look at the sky
The sun goes down; look how it frays
But what makes the difference is that it tries to persist
It falls off the horizon but comes yet another day.

You think what you feel
You feel what you think
The mind is so good at concealing
You lose though you stand at the brink.

Shouldn’t you play the game, too?
Your smile must be wooed by you
Since the misery starts with you
You must be the one to strangle it, too!

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