7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers: Sharpen the Saw (Part 2)

This is your emotional dimension. It mainly deals with the relationships you share with others. You need to have a good relationship with yourself first. Only then, you can have a good relationship with others. If your emotional needs are not fulfilled you cannot lead a balanced life.

Conscious Efforts

We cannot be emotionally healthy by coincidence. The ones who are emotionally secure have been knowingly or unknowingly putting efforts towards this. So it is important to not leave things to chance. Take control of your own emotional health. Start by strengthening your relationships. Plan activities and spend quality time with your loved ones. Let them know how much they mean to you. You will be surprised by the warm reciprocation that you receive.

Avoid toxic people

Does spending time with a person make your feel drained ? Do yourself a favour and distance yourself from that person. Toxic people suck all your energy out. This affects your other relationships too. So identify the ones who create toxic patterns in your life. Avoid such people at all costs.

Small acts of kindness

The joy of giving was, is and will always be more than the joy of receiving. Help people without expecting anything in return. When your friends or family need your help, be there for them. Do nice things for strangers whom you will never meet again. Participate in community service initiatives. Serve the underprivileged. All these activities will help your experience the joy of giving.

This is your spiritual dimension. Your soul is the center of your being. Who are you when you are all by yourself? Who are you when no one is watching? It is important for you to know this person well. We all act differently based on our roles in society. But who we are when we are alone , is our truest self. Spend time in self discovery.

Meditation

There are different forms and types of meditation. But in all cases it is a journey within. It helps you discover yourself. It helps you understand your deepest desires. It is also known as soul searching. A few minutes of silent meditation everyday has numerous benefits.

Prayer

Some call it God, some say Universal or cosmic energy, yet others call it spirit. Whatever it is that you believe in, learn to pray. In this world, there are so many things outside our control. Understanding this and surrendering to a higher power requires a lot of humility. This will also give you hope. Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies.

Deep thinking

Back in the day, people had time to think. This might have been during the long walks which were a part of their daily routine. Or while they were on bed struggling to fall asleep. But now with entertainment options available, we never really think. We are always enjoying ourselves. We watch television or use our phone till we fall asleep. We have faster modes of commute. So we never think about things deeply. In fact, the pandemic has given us an opportunity to do that. People are so afraid of their thoughts that they don't want to spend any time alone with them. But you need to do that in order to have a balanced life.

Spend time in nature

Nature has therapeutic qualities. Going on a walk to catch some fresh air melts your stress and worries away. Spending time around greenery has an uplifting effect on your mood. Water is also known to be extremely helpful. 70% of the earth as well as the human body is water. So take long showers and go for a swim often.
Spending time in the blue and green elements is really good for your soul.

Invest in art

Every artist pours out his creativity through art. The work he produces often comes from the depths of his soul. This will definitely move your soul. Invest in paintings and artwork, listen to original music from upcoming artists, attend stand up comedy shows and watch plays. Spend more time in your own creative space too. Don't just enjoy art. Start creating your own masterpiece too.

Thank you so much for reading ! The 5 article series on ' 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers' comes to an end here. I hope I have contributed to your personal growth in some way. Everyone knows what to do but very few do what they know. I can only share my knowledge with you. But the choice of implementing it in your life, lies with you. I trust and believe that you will make the right choice. Have a great life ahead !