Top takeaways from elevating an early adolescent in 2021

What can I say about this year that you haven't already reflected on? That you haven't felt?

Maybe nothing. Or, maybe you need a reminder of what this year has taught you, and where you're going from here. As a perpetual student and teacher, I'm always looking at life experiences as lessons that guide me to growth. I encourage everyone I work with to do the same. I don't necessarily believe everything happens for a reason, but I do believe that we can learn from everything - and everyone.

As we're now in the holiday season and rapidly approaching the end of 2021, I wanted to use this episode to reflect on the last 6 months of this podcast, and the lessons we've all learned, or need to learn about what it means to elevate adolescence.

So, here's a quick snapshot of my top 5 lessons learned in 2021. I hope they give you a reminder of how far you've come, and where you want to head in this new year.

Take a look into today's talking points

#1 Lesson Learned: Mental health is health.

• The collective intensity that we're living in has forced society to look at adolescent mental health in a whole new way.

• We learned that true health comes from the inside out.

• Many of our early adolescents learned that they liked school more than they ever thought before - because they could socialize, take risks, and get a break from their parents - hallelujah!

#2 Lesson Learned: Challenges squeeze all of us.

• When you squeeze a lemon, lemon juice comes out. In other words, what comes out is what's inside. This is a metaphor for ALL of us. And, we've all been squeezed this year. When someone is stressed, what comes out is what's inside.

• Evaluate what's come out as a result: Anxiety? Anger? Compassion? Creativity? Take note of how you've reacted to your own life as a result of this squeezing. And, continually come back to your values as a human being.

• Remember: you will be squeezed this next year, too. Ask yourself - how am I going to show up in the world when this happens?

#3 Lesson Learned: Adolescence is a stage to embrace.

• You know I feel this way, and I hope that if you've listened to me long enough, and you start to see what's emerged from this wonderful population of humans in 2021 you have learned this, too.

• Our early adolescents are our changemakers, they are our teachers, our future innovators, and leaders.

• We are their lighthouses - and what we do now matters. How we respond to our enemies, our challenges, our health, and our environment matters. Embrace this stage - with all the twists and turns - and you embrace life and the future.

#4 Lesson Learned: Systems are our friends.

• You are a positive belief shaper for your adolescent. So much of the work I do is to uncover the root belief beneath any behavior - as they drive ALL of our life's decisions. These form our belief system.

• Figuring out the ways to give and receive information so that you are both feeling seen, heard, and valued is one of the keys I share in the RELATE Method. A strong, healthy communication system is the difference between a parent/kiddo relationship that is broken and one that is unbreakable.

#5 Lesson Learned: Your Relationship is the Gatekeeper and Keymaster.

• We couldn't leave this year without me giving a nod to the original Ghostbusters (one of my top 5 favorite movies, of course). And, it's oh so true.

• I kicked off this year by developing and sharing The RELATE Method with the world. I developed this Method as a response to so many questions I get from parents - and each and every question came back to two words: Your Relationship.

• R = Reveal the Real You

• E = Engage - See who they are, See what they see, Let them see you

• L = Listen Deeply

• A = Attune - Connect with their state of being

• T = Build Trust

• E = Elevate - Believe and act beyond the status quo.

So, there we are - my top 5 lessons learned in 2021.

#1 Mental Health is Health

#2 Challenges Squeeze All of Us

#3 Adolescence is a Stage to Embrace

#4 Systems are our friends

#5 Your Relationship is the Gatekeeper and Keymaster

A gentle reminder that the learning process is not linear - it is filled with moments of being off course - then you course correct. Like me, I hope you'll consider yourself a student as much as a teacher.

Like what you hear? Keep listening to the Elevated Adolescence Podcast