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Raising an adolescent Today can be overwhelming. Newspapers, radio, television and video routinely report on tragic accidents and irresponsible behavior involving teenagers. And movies and videos portray teens as reckless and rude. Parents often worry that they have little time left to prepare their teens for the "real world." Arm your teenager with the skills to survive and be successful by encouraging the development of these seven traits.

1. Self-Respect. Respect towards others begins with self-respect and acceptance. Teens can be encouraged to recognize and accept their strengths as well as their weaknesses. We all struggle in one area or another; accepting ourselves as we are allows us to move forward realistically and make decisions about changing aspects of our behavior that we dislike. Being well aware of our strengths allows us to pursue activities that will likely result in success. Parents can model self-respect by showing their own fallibility when appropriate and by demonstrating respect and acceptance towards others.

2. Goals. Clear and realistic goals provide teens with a road map for their behavior and generate optimism. By establishing long-term goals, an adolescent can then set short-term goals that lead toward the attainment of the ultimate objective. As the adolescent gets closer to the goal, enthusiasm and confidence increase. Goals change over time; help your adolescent maintain focus on her current goals while supporting her through defeats as well as victories. This increases the likelihood that she will be successful.

3. Communication Skills. The ability to communicate thoughts and feelings articulately is vital for success with other people. Model direct, clear and accepting communication for your teen. Avoid blaming others for your feelings and express anger, frustration and other unpleasant feelings appropriately. There are several good books written for parents about communicating with teenagers, and these skills apply to us all.

4. Social Skills. Social skills can be learned and cultivated and lead to successful relationships and high regard from others. The ability to use appropriate body language, maintain eye contact, give and receive compliments, apologize, be tactful and manage comfortably in social situations are necessary in school, work and social arenas. Practice makes perfect with most skills and social skills are no exception. Again, model these skills for your children, and encourage their development through involvement in teams, clubs, youth groups, leadership opportunities and other activities.

5. Stress Management. Stress is a part of life; learning to tame it and use it productively gives anyone an advantage. Stress can be minimized by learning time-management techniques to conquer procrastination, do rewarding activities daily, balance work and play and keep things in perspective. When overwhelmed by stress, successful teens seek ways to solve problems rather than be paralyzed by them, work towards keeping calm by practicing relaxation techniques or exercising and look for support from friends and family. Parents can demonstrate many stress management techniques and may consider doing a healthy stress reducing activity with their teen to provide family support.

6. Exercise. Regular exercise has numerous benefits for physical health and also improves mental health. Teens are able to work on developing all the previously mentioned traits within an athletic activity. They set goals, feel success, develop self-confidence, communicate with others on a team and learn to tolerate frustration and setbacks. With so many athletic activities available, there is truly a sport for everyone.

7. Family Support. Finally, a supportive, loving family gets us all through the tough times. Show interest in your teen's activities, attend her games or performances, brag about her, show her off. For a teenager, the sense of being the gleam in their parent's eye is a confidence builder and encourages positive movement towards a goal. Show your teen you believe in her abilities and potential, and she will shine.

An ancient Greek philosopher wrote that given the behavior and attitudes of adolescents in that era, there was no hope for future generations. It's a timeless issue. Yet we grow up, settle down and find our way. Today's teens are no exception. Helping teens through the rough patches, supporting them with their successes and developing these seven success traits will make adolescence a pleasant and exciting time for everyone in the family.

1. Success Is Focus
2. Success Is Desire
3. Success Is Action
4. Success Is Self-Talk
5. Success Is Discipline
6. Success Is Persistence
7. Success Is Friendships
8. Success Is Family First
9. Success Is Commitment
10. Success Is Taking Risks
11. Success Is Visualization
12. Success Is Being Decisive
13. Success Is Dreaming Again
14. Success Is Setting Priorities
15. Success Is A Paradigm Shift
16. Success Is Daily Motivation
17. Success Is Belief In Yourself
18. Success Is Financial Freedom
19. Success Is Having Fun Today
20. Success Is Time Management
21. Success Is Learning Leadership
22. Success Is Volcano Enthusiasm
23. Success Is Being Well Groomed
24. Success Is A Vocation You Love
25. Success Is Setting Written Goals
26. Success Is Continuing Education
27. Success Is Fitness & Youngevity
28. Success Is Becoming Exceptional
29. Success Is Developing New Habits
30. Success Is Ethical Living & Service
31. Success Is Taking Personal Responsibility
32. Success Is Self-Actualization And Fulfillment
33. Success Is A Positive Attitude About Everything

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond belief
- Nelson Mandela -

Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed
- Michael Pritchard -

Some men see thing as they are and say 'why?'
I dream of things that never were and say 'why not?'
- George Bernard Shaw -

The only way to discover the limits of the possible
is to go beyond them into the impossible
- Arthur C. Clarke -

You reach a point in your evolution
when you need to move away from the old system
- Maggie Monro -

1. What am I most committed to in my life?

2. What am I most grateful for in my life?

3. What makes me happy in my life?

4. What do I enjoy doing in my life?

5. Who do I love?

6. Who loves me?

7. What are my top three goals in life?

8. If I knew I could not possibly fail,
what would I most want to do?

9. What three things make me feel good?

10. What do I want to have, do and be
ten years from now?