Teen Breathe - Issue 35 - July 2022

70 Pages·2022·22 MB·English

BE INSPIRED • BE STRONG • BE CURIOUS • BE UPLIFTED
TEEN Breathe
Here comes the sun • On the spur of the moment • Careless whisper • Sit with it
Too much of a good thing? • Shine bright • Play to your strengths • Brave new workout
CONTENTS
2 Shine bright 30 On the spur of the moment
Do you undersell your skills Spontaneity and impulsivity –
and achievements? Here’s why what’s the difference between
sharing them is a better idea the two? Discover it here
– and not a case of showing off
34 Dream team
6 Dear me… How to build a great support
Imagine opening a letter in network – and be there to help
10 years’ time that you wrote others when they need it
to yourself in the present day…
38 Brave new workout
10 Careless whisper Does the prospect of exercise fill
Gossip can be unkind, but you with dread? Here’s how to
there’s lots you can do to ease push through any feelings
your worry if you fear you’re of self-consciousness
the subject of it
42 Here comes the sun
12 Sit with it The many joys of waking up
Ever heard of a sit spot? with the dawn and how it can
Discover how spending regular set you up for the day ahead
time in one can strengthen your
connection with nature 44 The only way is up
Whether you’re terrified of
16 That’s not how it happened! heights or relish walking a
This fascinating exploration of tightrope, here’s how to view
how memory works is a good things from a fresh perspective
reminder that there’s more
than one side to every story 48 Marvellous meringues
Three delicious fruit-filled
18 Play to your strengths summer recipes
Games that combine play with
yoga? What’s not to love? 52 Wings of hope
The amazing comeback
22 Walk a mile of the beautiful red kite is
How different types of a rewilding success story
empathy are important in
helping you relate to others 56 To dye for
Create your own unique clothing
26 Too much of a good thing with our guide to tie-dyeing
Why you shouldn’t take it
to heart if someone tells 60 Heart of glass
you that you’re ‘too much’ Searching for seaside treasures
Don’t miss the next issue of
Teen Breathe: on sale from 30 August
Find more inspiration at
teenbreathe.co.uk
ON THE COVER: Illustration by Laura Lhuillier
Welcome to

TEEN Breathe
Learning about how you and your mind work is
useful for navigating your way through life. Once you
understand what’s driving your choices and ways of
being, the chances are you’ll learn how to be kinder
and more compassionate to yourself.
You may also find it easier to avoid self-doubt
and fear of other people’s judgments when making
decisions, basing them instead on what you genuinely
want and think is best.
Pinpointing what’s behind thoughts and actions isn’t
always simple. Your behaviour is often determined by
ideas about yourself or the world that are buried deep
in your subconscious. You might avoid sharing your
successes, for example, because you’re nervous about
being criticised. Or you might be afraid to ask for support
or feel thwarted by the complexities of friendships.
All these concerns are natural and more common than
you might realise. But you can learn to work through
them – and they don’t have to be a barrier to living life
to the full. In fact, recognising your own patterns without
self-criticism can help you to connect more deeply with
others, increase your ability to empathise and help you
to appreciate the many sides to every story.
Seeing yourself clearly also helps you to recognise
what makes you feel good. So, think about the things
you love and make room for them whenever you can,
whether that’s playing games with friends, walking on
the beach or feeling the first light of dawn on your face.
SHINE BRIGHT
Modesty can have hidden costs, so make sure you don’t undersell yourself
Do you sometimes downplay how much you know about you overlooked for opportunities you’re actually perfect
a topic when an opportunity pops up to put this to for. Becoming more comfortable when emphasising your
good use? Maybe you got the grade you wanted in a strengths is one way to prevent this happening.
test, or were proud of a piece of art you created, but felt According to psychologist Tara Quinn-Cirillo, talking
embarrassed when someone complimented you. positively about your abilities helps to boost self-esteem
Yet embracing your achievements and skills – rather and build stronger connections with those around you.
than being overly modest – benefits everyone. Sharing Tara believes that having honest conversations with others
your strengths is a great way to improve your confidence, fosters good relationships by offering a sense of security.
celebrate progress with others and gain well-deserved Such communication includes sharing your
recognition for your hard work. accomplishments with people. Chances are, they’ll be
thrilled to hear you’ve done well and celebrate with you.
Sharing is self-caring
Underselling yourself can mean missing out on things that Too scared to share?
matter to you. Being afraid of talking about your talents ‘You may fear that sharing success brands you a show-off
might mean you decide not to audition for the school or less likeable in some way,’ says Tara. ‘You may have had
sports team or put yourself forward to be on the student negative comments or critical feedback on your ability.
council, even if these are things you’d like to do. This will affect your confidence in sharing future progress.’
If you too readily dismiss the value of your expertise, It’s understandable to worry about coming across as
others may not realise the skills you have. This could get boastful by showing pride when you’ve excelled in an area
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or achieved a significant personal milestone. The way you says Tara. ‘It’s important to consider your own pathway to
talk about your success is key to dealing with this. success. When you recognise your own development in
‘There’s a difference between sticking with the end this way, it’s good for self-worth. It can also impact on your
result (“I got an A grade”) versus telling everyone how easy motivation for the future, too.’
it was or how others did in comparison,’ says Tara. ‘It can Take a moment to acknowledge the things you’ve done
be useful to stay humble and talk about things that helped well recently. Let’s say you finally learned to play a song on
you, such as recognising people who’ve supported or guitar, after strumming away for months. Now’s the time to
encouraged you.’ practise sharing your achievement.
O
Think about those who had a hand in your success. Did Why not ask someone you care about if they’d like to VID
A
a teacher give you guidance on how to prepare for an hear you play this piece of music? Tell this person why it N
A
exam? Or perhaps a friend offered feedback on a piece of matters to you – that it’s something you worked hard for S: JULI
coursework. Recognising the role they played shows how and would love to perform for them. ON
much you value their support and the difference it’s made, RATI
T
S
while still taking pride in what you’ve done. YIt’os un’avteu rcaol mtoe b ae lnoenrvgo wusa yabout doing this, but afterwards K. ILLU
C
WI
Praise the progress reflect on how you found the experience. How did their ER
T
Success isn’t just about winning awards or getting a top feedback make you feel? Was it nice to have your hard UT
B
mark for an essay. work recognised? NE
OLI
‘Achievements are often referred to in terms of grades, As lovely as it is to hear praise from others, always make R
A
C
rather than other markers for success – such as progress, sure you say an internal ‘Well done’ too. After all, what S:
D
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or mastering something that was previously difficult,’ matters most is that you feel proud of yourself. O
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Secrets to sharing your success
Think about the Be sensitive to others Accepting
context. Imagine when sharing your compliments is the
someone asks for help good news. If a friend best way to boost
with something you is disappointed by confidence when
know loads about or how they fared in an attention turns to your
you finish a piece of exam, but you got accomplishments.
writing you’re proud a top grade, then it Resist the urge to play
of. These are good might be kinder not to down achievements
opportunities to be talk about it too much or pretend they don’t
open about what you around them. You don’t matter. Simply saying
can do. It’ll feel less need to keep quiet ‘Thank you – I worked
awkward than bringing completely, but being really hard on that’
something up out of aware of how others leaves everyone
the blue. might feel means feeling good.
you’re more likely to be
mutually supportive.
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DEAR ME…
Writing a letter to your future self might seem like an odd idea,
but in a decade’s time you might relish every word
Who knows where you’ll be 10 or even 20 years from now? that truly count in life, a curiosity about others or an open-
Maybe you’ll have your own place to live. Perhaps you’ll mindedness about beliefs that older people would value.
have moved to a new city or even overseas. You might be
working in a field you haven’t heard of yet and spending Happy reminder
time with friends you’ve yet to meet. Writing a heartfelt letter to your future self can keep
One thing is for certain, though – you’ll still be you. And this youthful knowledge alive. It’s a way of preserving
your older self will enjoy being reminded of the things that your inner voice so that it doesn’t get drowned out by
matter to you now. One way to share your thoughts and adulthood and can be heard again further down the line.
feelings with this future version of you is to write a letter.
Where to begin
Word to the wise Setting out to write a letter to someone who doesn’t yet
You might be wondering what your current self could exist might feel strange at first, but remember that it’ll still
possibly have to teach an adult. There’s a commonly held be you. You’re the only one who’s ever going to read these
view that wisdom comes with age, and it’s true that each words, so pour your heart out onto the page as freely as
year does bring experiences and perspectives that help feels comfortable. It’s very much like writing in a journal.
you make sense of the world. The crucial difference, though, is that this letter is going
But being young comes with its own kind of wisdom. The to spell out the things you’ll want to be reminded of.
days when people are just beginning to work out who they It can be good to start by making a few notes of the
are can often be when they see themselves most clearly. things that spring to mind. Maybe it feels necessary to say
Children and teens often have a strong sense of the things how much you value being with your parents, as a note to

your future self to prioritise family time. Or perhaps you can Stow it safely
help the adult you to remember and understand what it’s On a practical note, keep in mind
like to be a teen, by outlining your goals and ambitions? that this is a document that needs to be
kept safe somewhere, so it’ll be easy to dig out in
To whom it may concern a decade’s time.
When it comes to the contents of your letter, it will be as
A
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unique as you are. It might be interesting to note down a Make it stand out DO
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few things that are on your mind at the moment – maybe If you write it by hand, choose some distinctive stationery. AM
M
something that’s happening at school or in the news. Once If typing’s easier, print it on brightly coloured paper or KA
NI
you’ve set the scene you can get to the important part. decorate it distinctively so it doesn’t get thrown away by S:
N
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mistake. Putting the letter in a drawer or box with other ATI
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Let it flow treasured mementos is one way to be sure you’ll happen ST
U
If feelings occur naturally then go with the flow. Don’t upon it from time to time. So you don’t forget what’s inside, LL
S. I
worry about punctuation or spelling – your future self is pop it in an envelope addressed to yourself and write DE
O
H
going to be more interested in your thoughts than your ‘open in 2032’ (or a year of your choosing) on the front. R
E
O
commas. Just jot down anything that seems important Then all that’s left to do is to hide it away and look L
H
C
and, if you find yourself with writer’s block, think of some forward to the wonderful gift you’re going to receive S:
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questions to use as prompts (see panel, right). from yourself once the years have passed. O
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