Life Strategies For Teenagers Essay

Teenagers everywhere have problems in the everyday lives and most of the time they do not know how to handle it. In “Life Strategies for Teens” Jay McGraw explains the ten life laws in a way that teenagers can understand and comprehend. By reading this book young adults benefit and learn how to better their lives in a positive way. Teens can benefit greatly by reading this book, but it may give kids ways to get out of problems faster by learning how to manipulate the system. The Life Laws are simple and easy to follow, but only one was outstanding to me. You create your own experience, the second life law, was most closely related to me because half the time I always think negatively about an area in my life. If I go on a road trip or go out with friends I always see the negative outcomes before I even notice the positive ways the day could turn. By reading “Life Strategies for Teens” helped me realize that most of the time the bad things that happen in my life is because I caused it. Either by thinking negatively or not trying to make it better. If I just think about it hard and try to make a situation better it can happen. The example Jay made was when he almost gave up on basketball, but ended up changing the way he was and began to get in better shape again to fulfill his goal. I have trouble doing that, but now since I read this book it has helped with my decision making and the way I think about my daily outcomes. Our daily lives are not planned out, but the way we act in our lives is how the way it plays out. If you want to lose weight you must work at it, or if you want your friends to respect you, you must show them that you are worth the respect. Jay McGraw doesn’t just talk about the Life Laws he also talks about the top ten list at his Dorm at college. If you analyze all the different characteristics, especially the number one, you realize that they all fit reality. As I read this section of the book I realized that most people that I know have the number characteristic which is fear of rejection. To realize these areas in people you have to understand the first Life Law which is, you either get it or you don’t. You have to learn that even you have these characteristics and once you understand this you can see others who have them. Everyone must learn the laws of life and see past the characteristics just like the 10th one, everyone has a mask, to build a successful lifestyle. You must stop and look around to see your surroundings to help carve your future. If you didn’t think of your future you wouldn’t start to change old habits and help your lifestyle. Many teenagers these days have a destructive lifestyle that include drugs, alcohol, and sex within them. As I read this book and saw the several examples he …show more content…
Understand that you can make an excuse to not drink and still have your friend by your side, but if they won’t stay by your side then they may be what you need to change in your life. One of the Life Laws in “Life Strategies for Teens” is we teach people how to treat us. You have to learn how not to be pushed around or forced to do anything by peer pressure, but on the other hand you must teach others how to respect you and your lifestyle. Same with parents you have to show them that you care in order for them to give you freedom. This Life Law showed me how I get pushed around by some of my friends and I will start defending myself from now on. Peer pressure is a real thing and everyone and been a victim of it within the teenage world. You may choose to say yes and you may choose to say no, but someone did try to pressure you into their lifestyle at one point. The changes that you must make to protect yourself is learn how to stand up and speak your mind, as well as have a good excuse no to succumb to peer