Sometimes, what you are most afraid of isn't actually that scary when you face it head-on.

Living under the cruel dictatorship of fear is optional. Become a freedom fighter. Acknowledge what you're afraid of without giving fear the power to rule your life. Say, "NO!" Say it a thousand times if you must.

What do you fear the most? How often do you think about it? Has thinking, worrying, or fretting about it reduced the potential of this happening? Since the answer is probably "no," stop wasting your energy trying to control "what if" or "could be."

There is help and encouragement all around you. Learn to draw strength from parents, family, teachers, co-workers, and friends. But in the end, you need not be afraid or ashamed to rely heavily upon yourself. Here's a great promise: start by becoming the reliable person others will trust.

Some problems and perplexities need to be addressed week after week. These can be overwhelming, can't they? This might help: Instead of feeling buried by thoughts of "I don't see how I can solve this," expand your thinking in a different direction by calming yourself and asking: "What resources are or might be at my disposal to help me at least head toward a solution in this obstacle?"

Do you have some inner idea of where you hope life might take you? Now is a good day (or week or month) to verbalize or write down words, phrases, or an outline to conceptualize your dreams.

Your conscious or unconscious mind may try to tell you what to think about yourself with messages, or "texts," that can be positive or negative. You don't have to let those texts be what drives you. Get a grip on those texts by consciously sending positive texts to yourself.

Don't settle for "I can't help it" or "That's just how I am." Determine who you WANT to become and choose to move in that direction. Soon, you will be proud to say, "That's the way I have become," instead of "That's the way I am."

Look for a good or even "ok" reason to enjoy the next 10 minutes. Take a deep breath and take the time to make wise decisions. In other words, don't back down from staying determined to live life at your pace

Instead of being engulfed by cynicism and darkness, run to the light by developing a keen eye for the millions of things in the universe that can amaze you.

Look around you. Name five things you can see. Name four things you can hear. Name three things you can feel. Name two things you can smell. Name one thing you can taste or one thing you can imagine tasting. Use your senses to become more aware of the present and less concerned about life's "what ifs."