Resilience 101: How to Survive Middle School and Love It

This is a journey for those who face being in the middle, but who want to face it with resilience, power, and optimism.

Make middle school a great experience.

You've been waiting for this day--the one where you leave the kids at the elementary school and go to the bigger and better things found in a middle school. Lockers, a bigger building, a variety of classes, and new friends are among the things you get excited about. 

You've probably heard a lot about some of the negative things in middle school too, though--how awkward it is, how stressful it can be, and how complicated life becomes once you begin to take more responsibility for yourself. 

There are always these two ways to look at life: the positive and the negative. This blog will acknowledge the negative right along with you, but it will then do it's best to help you focus on the positive. If you can do that, you have the superpower you need to make it through middle school alive, and to even enjoy the experience and make good memories along the way.

Growing Self-Awareness

Growth happens slowly.

Being self-aware means that you know yourself. You know your thoughts, beliefs, and actions. You know your likes and dislikes. You know what you value. And better yet, you know how these things can affect your life. If you know that, you can make better decisions about what you want and what you don't want. The better you know yourself now, the better chance you will have of graduating from middle school as the person you really want to be.

Maybe you have a pretty good handle on who you are already. Maybe you are still trying to figure it out. It may sound overwhelming. The good news is: you don't have to figure all of it out right now. Knowing yourself takes time and experience. You are planting yourself in a new environment, and it might take a while before you know exactly what kind of plant you are going to be. And that's okay. 

Focusing on Purpose

Move through middle school with purpose.

Take a moment to imagine what you might be like as you leave middle school.

You may say that you have enough to think about with middle school on your mind. It's going to take all of your time and energy just to make it through that! What if I told you that you will have a much better experience in middle school if you think about what you might be like as you leave it?

It's true. If you can imagine the amazing person that you are going to become throughout the next few years and keep that image in your mind, you will be able to use it as a goal to work towards. Having that kind of a goal will help you make choices that will turn you into that very person that you are thinking of! 

Your purpose is to become that amazing person you want to be. That purpose will drive you forward and keep you going in the right direction.

Building Positive Relationships

Relationships make a difference.

Some may think that relationships are a distraction when it comes to school. Your parents may tell you to focus on homework, and they may put a lot of pressure on you to get good grades. You may even want that for yourself. That is great! The purpose of school is to learn, find what you are passionate about, and to begin to build a future for yourself. Don't stop working towards good grades!

But it takes more than studying to get good grades. Did you know that having healthy relationships can help? Taking breaks and having fun with people you respect and who respect you will create balance in your life and help you handle all of those tough assignments you are about to get.  

You might be a little nervous about meeting new people right now, but you are going to love the friendships that can be made in middle school! 

Becoming Aware of Self-Care

Healthy meals fuel the body.

Have you ever heard anyone say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Just as it makes sense to fill up your car with fuel before going on a trip, it makes sense to fill up your body before you head to another day of adventure in middle school. Eating healthy food will help you think, feel, and act better. 

There are other ways you will need to take care of yourself as well. Getting plenty of rest and exercise are two of them. Finding a hobby is another. The point of self-care is to make sure you aren't too focused on just one thing, since that will throw you out of balance. Making a schedule and sticking to it is a good way to make sure you take care of yourself. 

Mindfulness in the Middle

Focus on what matters most.

Mindfulness is a word we hear a lot these days, but sometimes it doesn't seem very clear. What does it mean to be mindful?

Mindfulness is paying attention to the present instead of being worried about the past or the future. It is when you are aware of what is going on around you because you aren't thinking or daydreaming about something else. 

That doesn't sound too hard, right? Sometimes you do that naturally. Sometimes, though, our minds like to wander. And sometimes that causes us problems. It may keep us up at night, or away from doing homework or spending meaningful time with people. We need to help our minds stay focused, and sometimes all it takes is  a nice, deep breath. Or two. Or three. 

Training yourself to do this when you are stressed will help you relax more quickly and get back to a place where you can really think.

The Adventure Begins Here!

Make great teen memories.

So, are you ready to begin this adventure? Are you ready to make some great memories? Are you ready to be the person you want to be? It all starts with where you are right now--with yourself!