It’s undeniably an exciting era for young women with boundless opportunities and open doors.
Each woman’s journey is unique, filled with different experiences and challenges. Despite these differences, there are fundamental skills or life principles that young women should cultivate for a balanced and fulfilling life.
GET TO KNOW YOURSELF AND BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF. Adults tend to ask children “what do you want to be when you grow up”.
This is a very difficult, if not impossible, question to answer at a young age – there are many things that you have yet to experience that will influence the choices you make.
Instead, consider asking yourself “How do I want to live my life?” “What is important to me?” “What makes me happy?”
Maybe you are energized by being around people, or maybe you crave alone time. Are you the type of person that likes structure and predictability or do you like spontaneity? Are you comfortable making quick decisions or prefer having time to consider all the options.
Be honest with yourself, there are lots of things we wish we were but, once we accept ourselves for who we are and accept our limitations, we are more likely to make choices in life that complement our personalities and will make us happy.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF – PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. A physically and mentally healthy you is fundamental to a happy you. Set healthy patterns and habits now, in your teen years, that you can carry forward in your life as it gets busier, and you take on more responsibilities.
Get out and move around doing the things you enjoy (yoga, skiing, walking your dog, hockey, basketball, etc.), cook for yourself, cook with your friends, plan healthy meals, bring your lunch to school, use technology/social media responsibly – set limits for yourself and disconnect from time to time.
Most of all, should something in your life become too much to handle on your own – you feel overwhelmed, can’t cope or are anxious (and there is a good chance it will at some point) – develop your courage to reach out and ask for help.
SAYING “NO” IS OK. Women tend to want to be pleasers, to be nice, to accommodate – these are all excellent attributes but sometimes our reluctance to say no may mean we are doing things we don’t have time to do, or we are putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations or we are spending time with people we don’t really enjoy.
Learn to say “no” when it matters.
BE ACCOUNTABLE, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY – FOR YOUR PATH, YOUR MISTAKES, YOUR CHOICES. No one makes the right decision all the time. All of us make mistakes or bad choices. When things don’t go the way you expect or you realize you have gone down the wrong path, swallow your pride, work hard at not blaming others, accept responsibility for your role in the failure, learn from it and move forward.
BE SOCIALLY MINDED – MUCH BENEFIT COMES FROM GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. Many of you will be familiar with the book “Fill Your Bucket”. Filling someone else’s bucket fills your happiness bucket at the same time. Find ways to contribute – sharing your skills, time, money, to make other people lives better.
BE CURIOUS AND OPEN-MINDED. This will allow you to expand your perspective on life and to see and take advantage of new opportunities when they present themselves.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSTIVITE AND SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE. Seek out and connect with people you admire and learn from them – teachers, friends, parents, family members, employers.
Mastering these essential life skills will empower you to navigate the challenges and opportunities that come your way as a young woman. By getting to know yourself and being honest about your desires and limitations, you can make choices that align with your true selves. These principles, when embraced early on, will serve as a strong foundation for success in adulthood, enabling young women to thrive in a constantly evolving world.
This WARDS LAWYERS PC publication is for general information only. It is not legal advice, nor is it intended to be. Specific or more information may be necessary before advice could be provided for your particular circumstances.
