What I Wish I Knew At Age 16

Here's everything everyone wish they knew at the age of 16. The number next to it indicates the age the author wrote it at.

Hey 16 year old, Learn to see the perspective of people who anger you. This is not to say that you have to agree with them or think they're good people deep down. This is so you can respond in the calmest assertive way possible, and not by creating more drama.

Hey 16 year old, If you want some help calming down, try some mindfulness meditation apps, try some guided meditation websites or just looking up guided meditations on YouTube.

Hey 16 year old, Do not speak to other people when you're in an uncontrollably angry or resentful mood. Wait until you've calmed down enough, or ask them to give you more time to think about it first. If not, you'll regret it.

Hey 16 year old, If you're afraid of something, just start small when it comes to your fear. If a picture of your fear or even imagining it scares you, do that. If just saying hello to people makes you nervous, practice that first. Baby steps.

Hey 16 year old, What hurts is not what people say, but the fact that you repeat the same words to yourself, even if your critics aren't physically present to you. What hurts the most is how criticism is emotionally present, not just physically.

Hey 16 year old, If you feel like others say that you're too sensitive all the time, look up the term HSP (Highly Sensitive Person), and it will help a lot. Trust me. At least google it before jumping to conclusions about the term.

Hey 16 year old, Know that people who constantly call you or everyone else they see who is beneath them ugly are the ugliest people. Doesn't matter if they're conventionally attractive, they're the ugly ones.

Hey 16 year old, If you're stuck on something and it helps, look up the deep famous quotes of your favorite TV shows and movies, then use that to inspire you in life.

Hey 16 year old, If you want help in all kinds of relationships, know the signs and differences between aggressiveness, passive aggressiveness and assertiveness. Read a book from the library about it, or at least look it up online.

Hey 16 year old, It's not a replacement for professional therapy, but what helped me that doesn't involve thick books on mental health, is to look for mental health web comics online, as in anxiety comics, depression comics, and so on.

Hey 16 year old, If you can't look people in the eyes in social situations, look between their eyebrows, their nose or their mouth. Somehow it makes others have the impression that you're giving them eye contact if you're too nervous.

Hey 16 year old, No matter what your parents or family says, psychology is a science and mental illness is real. If they don't listen, you might want to try to look for at least one single sane adult, whether it's a teacher, neighbor, aunt/uncle, and so on.

Hey 16 year old, If your parents think your depression, anxiety or other mental illness is caused by Satan or that means you're literally possessed by a demon, they might also need as much therapy as you, if not more. They sound pretty loony to me.

Hey 16 year old, There are many anxiety blogs if you would like to read some, such as Beautiful Voyager, Anxious Lass, Anxiety Slayer, Anxiety Sisters, Free From Social Anxiety, Anxiety Canada, About Social Anxiety, Diary of a Social Phobic and more.

Hey 16 year old, If you would like to read some eating disorder recovery blogs, I recommend And Then She Recovered, Make Peace with Food, Eating Disorder Hope, Beat Eating Disorders, Project HEAL, Recovery Warriors, The Friend I Never Want(ED) and more.

Hey 16 year old, Learn to list your priorities. What are your main priorities in life in order? What is most important and is due the most soon? What is unimportant but due soon? What is important but not due soon? What is unimportant and not due soon?

Hey 16 year old, If you want help finding a sense of calm wherever you go, carry a small sentimental object around you that comforts you, a lot like how a little kid will carry their favorite blankie around. You don't have to grow out of that kind of thing, you know?

Hey 16 year old, Trying out coloring books for adults (which are more complicated) or even coloring books for kids (which are simpler), can be a very calming task if you want to relax. You can buy some or print coloring pages online. There are even apps like this.

Hey 16 year old, If you like video games and looking for something to do outside technology, board games can be pretty fun. It can range from something complex like Dungeons and Dragons, or it can be something classic like Monopoly. Give it a try maybe?

Hey 16 year old, Some basic ways to help the social causes you care about are petition sites like Change.org and Care2. Not to mention click to donate sites (where you look at ads of companies who sponsor charities.) The most famous of this is Free Rice, a quiz game.

Hey 16 year old, People throw out names, insults, slurs and swears at you and others only because they can't actually provide any calm logical explanation for why they hate you and others. You can't reason with someone who didn't arrive at their ideas with logic.

Hey 16 year old, When people insult you and bully you, ask why. Not just why they're doing this, but why they believe this about you. Do they even know anything about you? Are they the expert of your life? Do they know everything about the world? Are they smart?

Hey 16 year old, When others insult you, notice if they're projecting. If they say you're fat and ugly, are they even completely fit and healthy themselves? If they say you're stupid, are they even that smart? If they say you're selfish, are they even kind at all?

Hey 16 year old, If something you're studying is difficult to understand, use the Feynman technique. Explain it in your own words or using pictures, diagrams and technical definitions. Try to teach it to someone else. It will organize your thoughts. Look it up.

Hey 16 year old, Sir main kya karu

Hey 16 year old, Scientifically, even a 10 minute walk has a lot of major benefits already, not just to the body, but to one's mood and brain. If hard physical exercise seems hard to maintain, at least begin with a short walk daily. You can listen to music too.

Hey 16 year old, Watch videos on Youtube on common movie tropes and stereotypes like the black guy/girl who dies first, the gay best friend, the magical negro, the nerdy Asian kid, the sassy black woman, the dumb blond girl, the dumb jock, and more to examine it all.

Hey 16 year old, Other than getting classic self defense items online, look up some self defense moves for women to try, if you feel unsafe on the streets or even in your own neighborhood. Check out self defense moves from YouTube too, for some ideas.

Hey 16 year old, It's okay to leave some friends behind, or anyone else who is causing pain in your life whatsoever. Sometimes, unlike in the movies, not everyone makes up in the end, and that's okay. Friends come and go. Some stay. Most leave.

Hey 16 year old, If you're the artistic type, know that writing poetry or even reading poetry can help you make sense of your emotions. Look up the website Family Friend Poems for example, Button Poetry on YouTube, or the Ted-Ed poem playlist.