Your Teen’s Inner Voice
Your teen has an inner thought process that is a little rickety as it matures, but is so important to assist them in future decisions they will have to make. This is what they will use when you are not there to point out all the ways something can go right or wrong. They need only learn to listen to it, but first they have to know it is there.
When your teen has made a good decision, or a bad decision, or been in a dangerous situation, instead of going the route of should ofs could ofs ask them what was going through their mind as they approached the situation. Ask them about the feeling they had. Were they feeling good? Were they under the influence of drugs or alcohol when they were feeling good? Were they nervous like butterflies in the stomach? The point is to try and get them to describe this feeling as best they can. Once they can put a name to it, describe that feeling for them as their inner voice. Ask them about it as if they were practicing listening to it. Let them see the association between the outcome of certain situations and what the inner voice was trying to get them to do. Or any situation from walking down a dark alley, to being alone with someone at a party, the inner voice is very good about protecting your teen. The more they listen to it the better they will be able to feel as though they have a direction in life for it will also guide your teen on their life’s passion and career choice. This is what will tell them if they are happy or enjoying their life.
Listening to your inner voice is the quintessential skill that your teen should be taking the time to hone and your questions that get them to clue in help them realize the connection between listening to that inner voice and their safety and happiness.
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