Teen Breathe Magazine

New Year is a time for building new (and hopefully lasting) positive habits. So what would you love to do over the next 12 months? Maybe you want to spend more time outdoors, be more creative or do better at that subject you hate. Maybe you’d actually like to do less of something, like scrolling on your phone, dwelling on certain emotions or arguing with loved ones.

Change can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Often it’s the small habits and improvements that add up to big changes. Before you know it, you’ve made amazing progress, just by taking one tiny step at a time. One way to reach your goals is to ask for feedback and advice. Whether it’s from teachers, trusted friends or someone else that you respect, a different perspective can help you grow and develop in lots of areas.

But here’s the catch: it’s not always easy to receive constructive advice from others. It can feel like criticism. It might make you feel defensive, hurt or frustrated. You might be tempted to say something negative in response. Learning to accept feedback is an artform in itself – but master it, and this could be the year you uncover new ways to shoot for the stars.