by Victoria M. Johnson
We've all experienced the angst and awkwardness of being a
teenager. What with acne, classmates
who taunted us, parents who didn't get us, and homework that overwhelmed us,
it's a wonder we made it out of high school with any self-esteem or
confidence. Yes, we had it bad but,
in retrospect, the world didn't stop spinning as we thought it might. And actually, I think teenage girls today
have it much worse than we did. They
suffer through the same experiences as us but I believe they have far more
stress nowadays. What can we do as
moms, sisters, aunts, or friends?
We can listen and we can speak inspiring words to the teen girls in our
lives. We can show our love and
support through words that bolster and lift the spirit. I'm sure we can all find encouraging
words within our hearts to speak, but teen girls sometimes come with hard
heads, don't they? Sometimes they
only hear it when the words come from someone else. With that in mind, I've gathered up some powerhouse
help. I've called in the troops in
the form of A-list artists whom your teens may identify with: Katy Perry, Kelly
Clarkson, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Aretha Franklin, and Lee Ann Womack. These talented women have recorded
confidence-building, constructive, and affirmative songs for teen girls. Teenagers love their music, right? We may as well reinforce the good songs
they're hearing through their earbuds.
Hearing these words, along with a strong hug will give any girl a boost
of assurance. Let's spread the
girl power!
"I went from
zero, to my own hero"
Katy Perry's upbeat song is as empowering as Helen Reddy's I Am Woman was back in the 70s. This song tells of a woman who was
pushed around but she's had enough and she has the confidence to stand up for
herself. The message to pass on is: get back up when others try to knock you down.
"You're beautiful, no matter what they
say"
Christina Aguilera sings about not letting other's hurtful words
get you down and about us being full of
beautiful mistakes. The
message to pass on is: even if you make a mistake, you're beautiful anyway.
"I'll spread my
wings and I'll learn how to fly"
Through Kelly Clarkson we get inspiration to take a chance by making a change that allows us to reach for a better life. The message to pass on: we don't know what the future holds but it's by taking a chance that we find our wings and opportunities.
Through Kelly Clarkson we get inspiration to take a chance by making a change that allows us to reach for a better life. The message to pass on: we don't know what the future holds but it's by taking a chance that we find our wings and opportunities.
"Whenever one
door closes, I hope one more opens"
This heartfelt song doesn't promise life will be
perfect. It speaks of life's setbacks
but with the hope for keeping a positive outlook and adventurous spirit. The message is: just because you've
been disappointed, don't give up.
"R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means
to me"
This song demands respect to the point where Aretha spells
it out to make it clear what she wants.
Although your teen likely doesn't know Aretha, these lyrics still
resonate and stand the test of time.
The message to pass on: always expect to be treated with respect--you
deserve it!
"Change the
voices in your head
Make them like you
instead"
When all the above fails to lift the spirits of your teen,
pull out Perfect aka F**ckin Perfect. Why would I recommend a song with the
"f" word in it? Well you
have the choice to hear it without the curse word, just listen to or buy the
clean version. Second, the song
powerfully gets to the negative self-talk some teens have inside them. And when it's the outside world that is
being cruel, it might come as the best encouragement to hear a loved one say,
"please don't believe those negative things. Don't let anyone make you feel less than perfect."
Of course, sometimes the situation a teen is facing at
school demands action and intervention.
That is when the principal is visited and/or the police are called. This is where the listening comes in
(and watching your teen's behavior) to make that determination. In all cases, it's up to all of us to give
inspiration and a fighting spirit to the young girls we love. If you can't speak the words, play the
song for her or print out the lyrics.
And don't forget to say, "I Love you; I'm here for you; Come and
talk to me about anything, anytime!"
Did I leave out a song you find particularly motivating and
uplifting for teen girls? Let me
know in the comments below.
Bio:
Victoria M. Johnson knew by the time she was ten that she wanted
to be a writer. She loves telling stories and she's
happiest when creating new characters and new plots. Avalon Books and Montlake Romance
published Victoria's fiction debut, The
Doctor’s Dilemma, (A 2012 Bookseller’s Best double finalist). Her other fiction book is a
collection of romance short stories titled, The
Substitute Bride. She is also the
writer and director of four short films and two micro documentaries. Visit
Victoria's website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com
for inspiration and tips and find her Amazon author page or connect
with her on Pinterest
and Twitter or Facebook.
