Know Yourself

Quick question: Do you actually know what you're good at?

Not what your parents say you're good at. Not what your teachers put on your report card. What YOU think you're actually good at.

Most kids have never really thought about it. They're too busy just getting through the day.

But here's the thing — knowing yourself is like having a superpower. When you know what you're good at, you can use it. When you know what you care about, you stop wasting time on stuff that doesn't matter. When you know what makes you different from everyone else, you stop trying so hard to be like everyone else.

And you're definitely different. Not weird-different. Interesting-different.

Think about it this way. You have things you're naturally good at that your friends aren't. Maybe you're the one who always knows how to make the group laugh. Maybe you're the one who figures out how things work. Maybe you're the one who remembers everything, or draws incredible things, or always knows what to say when someone is upset.

Those are real strengths. Not every kid has them. You do.

You also have things you care about more than other people do. Maybe it's fairness — it really bugs you when something isn't fair. Maybe it's animals, or music, or sports, or taking care of people you love. Those things you care about? They tell you a lot about who you are.

This week your job is simple: pay attention to yourself.

Notice what feels easy for you that seems hard for others. Notice what makes you lose track of time. Notice what makes you feel proud. Write it all down in your journal.

By the end of this week you're going to know yourself a little better than you did at the start.

That's not a small thing. Most people never do it.