Teen Breathe Magazine – Issue 47

In this issue:You choose • Guardian of the forest • Cosy cooking • Strike a chord? • Home alone • Embrace the butterflies • Getting to like you • Rallies all round • Creative burst

There are some challenges that people choose to take on – such as sports contests or learning an instrument. Others come uninvited, like coping with the loss of a beloved pet or dealing with tension at home.

Either way, what’s required in such situations is mental strength. But one of the hard parts is that you might not always be aware in advance of how strong you can be.

It’s natural to feel nervous when you’re tackling something difficult or new. You might worry about how you’ll cope or perform, or experience physical signs of unease, like sweaty palms or butterflies in your stomach.

The good news is that these alarm signals help stir the courage inside you. It’s always there, just quietly waiting for those times when you really need it.

Doing something difficult is tough while it’s happening, but it’s also a reminder of exactly what you’re made of. And courage grows every time you push on despite your fears.

Seeing what you’re capable of under pressure might even make you decide that you can take a stand for other causes – such as inequality or climate change – and add your weight to a campaign that makes the world a better place.

In between times, you can embrace challenges in more everyday ways, like being true to yourself no matter what people think. You don’t have to feel brave before you begin. Just take that first step and sense your inner warrior waking up.