Hey Parents,
What happens when your teenage daughter “harmlessly” looks around her social media accounts?
Today we’re going to talk about what the comparison trap looks like for teenage girls and how to put an end to this harmful habit.
I’m not sure I know anyone who hasn’t gotten totally stuck in the comparison trap at least once.
Because it’s totally natural to be curious about what life is like for other people.
And my clients have shared that with all the covid restrictions still in place, the amount of time they spend looking around the internet has really increased.
But here’s the hard part, if your daughter is consistently absorbing everyone else’s high points, without mindful supervision, all while she’s trying to find her place in this world, it can really muddle her sense of self and wreck her self-confidence.
So, rather than always feeling like you’re always trying to ‘build yourself back up,' let’s give your daughter ONE SIMPLE STRATEGY that’ll help build rock-solid resilience.
Recently, my clients say their screen time is way up.
So, not surprisingly, it's causing all sorts of what feels like anxiety, depression and ADD.
Ahhh, so if you’re wondering HOW one gets caught in the comparison trap – there’s your ANSWER.
The mindless quest for one sweet little dose of dopamine.
Unfortunately, rather than getting that dose of happiness she craves; she ends up absorbing…
- a zillion images of people who appear oh so happy, the way she wants to feel
- and a bunch of lovely places that, if she were just there, would make her feel better
I probably don’t have to tell you this is tough, even for confident teens.
As Developmental Molecular Biologist, Dr. John Medina reminds us, “Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads.”
That’s why it’s so important for your daughter to learn MINDFUL MONITORING.
Mindful monitoring is the art of paying attention to the thoughts and feelings that are running through your daughter’s head while she’s taking in the images and happenings of the world around her.
Dr. Susan David, the author of Emotionally Agility, “our raw feelings can be the messengers we need to teach us things about ourselves and can prompt insights into important life directions.”
So, let’s make sure your daughter practices mindful monitoring and gathers her golden nuggets whenever she scrolls.
You can also deepen your daughter's social and emotional skill set with this article, published in Thrive Global, “How to Raise a Socially Intelligent and Resilient Teenager 5 Simple Questions That Will Set Your Teenager Up for Success (https://cultivatingresilientteens.com/)
Next week we'll help your daughter make confident decisions with one reliable tool.
Podcast Resources
Developmental Molecular Biologist | Dr. John Medina |Brain Rules, 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home and School
Dr. Susan David | Emotional Agility Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life
How to Raise a Socially Intelligent and Resilient Teenager 5 Simple Questions That Will Set Your Teenager Up for Success