Just a tip: Do not allow loneliness, societal pressure, or emerging adulthood to be the catalyst for embarking on your journey of self-exploration. Take advantage of the purity you’re still gracious enough to hold onto as a teenager. For many of us, there isn’t a foreboding worry of the next car or mortgage payment.
Our biggest issues happen to be the mean girl/boy in our math class or making the basketball team. Life as a teen, even with the complexities presented by hormones and immature peer interactions, is relatively simple. And thus, vast.
There are so many hidden possibilities to revel in personal success waiting to be discovered. It’s important that you don’t let those windows of opportunity pass by. During our teenage years, we have the opportunity to discover the hidden talents and interests that lie within us.
In this article, I will unpack some useful tips to provide some advice on trying new activities, exploring different hobbies, and seeking out opportunities to learn and grow. My hope is that by empowering us teenagers to embrace their unique interests and talents, we can progress towards fulfilling lives driven by genuine passions.
Watch An Inspiring Movie
“Inspiring” is subjective; I’m fully aware of that. For some, the likes of Dr.Seuss or Disney princess movies are merely hyper realistic, disingenuous interpretations of reality. I find that movies centered towards overly optimistic tropes are in fact, inherently impractical and childish.
This is not to say that these movies carry no intrinsic value; I’ve watched the Lorax more than 100 times (half of those rewatches occurring after 13 years old). For those who fancy hyperrealism for a source of inspiration, go for it.
However, I have a feeling that those reading this article are looking for a bit more nuance. Studies show that while the urge to start a journey of self-exploration does vary in age, “it is common for people to start exploring their inner selves during adolescence and early adulthood”. This of course coincides with the dreaded transition from middle school into high school, where hormone monsters rule your social life for the foreseeable future.
Recognizing that, inspiration for teens is more likely to look a bit darker; elders might even call it angst. The reality is though that these lessons we search for are rooted in realism that provides a sense of comfort through the foreign challenges we face.
Satirical movies like “The Truman Show”, which is still grounded in fiction but provides social commentary on the world around us, can inspire teens who feel trapped in a world that seems to be a never-ending routine. Movies based on true stories like “The Pursuit of Happiness” and “Freedom Writers” display remarkable stories of human resilience through what seems to be impossibly daunting tasks.
And of course, movies like “All the Bright Places” that tell stories of teens without a predictably happy ending can comfort those who are going through loss like heartbreak or rejection.
These movies can console feelings of uncertainty or complacency by highlighting stories that hit home for young adults. Lord knows how many times I’ve watched “All the Bright Places” during a really sad moment of my life. Because the truth is, teenage years aren't sunshine and rainbows; there are ups and downs we have to begin to learn to process on our own. Hopefully seeing examples of humans discovering their hidden strengths in cinemas can inspire you to discover your own.
Write in a Guided Journal
For a while, I thought guided journals were corny. As a guy still plagued with traces of toxic masculinity, I also thought it was especially corny for me to carry one around. I’d like to place some blame on the manufacturers who sell these guided journals.
The targeted audience seems to be catered exclusively for women. If I was a prospective guy doing a simple search on the major outlets for guided journals like Amazon Target or Etsy, I would assume that guided journals just weren't for. The only reason I can even vouch for the utilization of guided journals is because my mom gifted me one for Christmas (I could only imagine how long it took her to find a journal she could present that didn’t look like it was meant for her).
All jokes aside, guided journals are a really cool way to keep your mind stimulated throughout the day. The prompts embedded within are varied with different prompts to track the different ways you could prioritize personal physical, mental, and emotional health. The secret with these journals is consistency. The prompts never change; the goal is to track your growth throughout the days you track.
My initial journal was very simple. It required an AM and PM entry, which added slight pressure to remember its existence twice a day. I found this routine to be effective in keeping my day grounded.
The prompts asked me to track short- and long-term goals that I could hold myself accountable to reaching every day. Before using a journal, I never thought about keeping track of my goals, which might’ve been why I didn’t have as much beforehand. Most guided journals follow a similar pattern.
I believe there’s one out there for every person who wants one. If not, you can create one!
In the coming weeks, I’ve bought another guided journal (yes, it is aggressively pink with a pink bookmark) that has more in-depth prompts. I have no doubt that these guided journals will be a source of inspiration for teens that just need a little kickstart into a journey of personal productivity.
Take a Walk Outside (Without Headphones)
You never notice how loud the outside world is until you unplug. Urban areas like New York City, Chicago, and Atlanta may be a little more obnoxious in its natural noise level. But the reality is, sometimes even the loudest areas can feel the loneliest when the world you’re used to is confined to a man- made screen.
Social media has minimized the value of individuality for teens in the real world. Experts at Mayoclinic document the world of the internet “distracting [teens], disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people's lives and peer pressure”.
Ironically, those obstacles tend to draw in impressionable minds to fix what seems to matter the most; online presence.
I’ve come to tell you that the internet has no inherent value; you give it the value it holds in your life. I say it’s time to reclaim that power and find a balance that makes social media and the internet just another tool for self-exploration. Go take a walk outside and bask in the pleasures of in person interaction.
Take a second to appreciate life in all its various forms. Even nature is alive and full of life! Self-exploration can take place online, but it doesn’t have to be. By unplugging once in a while, you will be able to explore all the possibilities and passions life has to offer.
Join a Club (Whether It’s Your Passion or Not!)
There’s this common misconception that the club you subscribe to as a teen in high school is a direct descriptor of who you are. Oftentimes, clubs are associated with a clique of like-minded teens that you should be around 24/7. To be fair, clubs are defined in a similar manner: “a type of group that is typically organized around a shared interest or activity”. So, it is a fair assumption that the club you decide to join will act as a representative of your personal interests.
However, clubs, like every other group, are directed towards a specific topic or activity. I would hate to assume that humans are limited to one specific point of interest. Especially teens who haven’t even experienced full cognitive development.
That just isn’t true. While you are still young, it’s important to remember that there are so many avenues to be explored. So, explore them!
Clubs are there to learn about things that you might have interests in; They aren’t socially binding contracts that must be carefully read through and selected with utmost caution. I find it important to utilize every resource available to you to explore who you are, or more importantly, who you can be.
Thats the most important thing to remember as a teen looking to start a journey of self-exploration. You are at the point of your life that presents the most potential to define who you might want to be. It’s okay not to know who you are; most adults don’t even have that answer. What’s most important is you take some time out of your day to prioritize what will fulfill you personally.
In conclusion, I want you to promise yourself something for 2024; don’t leave any questions you might have about yourself on the table. Delve to the deepest, darkest parts of you that haven’t been discovered, and discover them. Embrace those sides of you because that, along with the surface level, ultra positive aspects, define who you are.
That being said, I wish you all luck in your personal journey of self-exploration!
