For those of you who expect to have the latest podcast on Saturday, I appologize for the lateness of the last two podcasts. Between moving and my sister’s wedding I have been swamped on the weekends. The podcasts will be back on schedule this week.

Teen Girls compare their ‘lack of talent’ to others ‘best’ talents
I have always wanted to be a singer. I would love to be on stage in front of thousands of screaming fans. I would love to be on stage in front of 15 people who just came to see me play my guitar and sing. However, a great singing voice is not something that I was blessed with. In fact, back in the day when I played in a band, i was pretty much not allowed to go near a microphone.

I have a good friend who is a very good singer. He plays gigs. He records his own music. He gets invited to sing a lot because he is very talented.

If I chose to define my self worth by comparing my singing talent to his, I would be in the dumps all the time. I would be basing my self worth and value on someone Else’s talents and unique ability. How crazy is that? It’s insane, but a lot of people, including teenage girls, do it.

Rather than compare myself to my singing friend, I should take a look at my own unique skills and abilities. i should make a list of things that I love to do, things that I know I do well, or things that other people have complimented me about. Then focus on those things. You should do the same. Find out what it is that you love and are good at, then to develop your skills in those areas.

Teen Girls compare themselves with media perfection
Walk into any grocery store or gas station and you will see loads of magazines with bikini clad women gracing the covers. Watch MTV or VH-1 and you see scantily clad women with great bodies either singing as the lead artist, or taking a back up role as a dancer. The media has flooded our society with images that are designed to attract attention and lead a person to buy merchandise.

As teen girls see the magazine covers and watch T.V. they are bombarded with images of ‘the perfect body’. Girls compare their imperfect bodies with the ones they are seeing on the magazine covers and it is damaging to their self esteem.

The Teen Esteem Council conducted a series of interviews to find out what the major problems that teenage girls face today. Body image was one of the main issues that continually came up. They often see boys looking at magazine covers or hearing boys talk about how ‘hot’ this model or that model is. The girls feel that they have to compete with that in order to get attention from boys.

Realize that your body is your body. Most parts of how you look are not going to change drastically. Also realize that your body is not you. There is so much more to you than just the package of skin and bones that the real you uses to get around.

What is most important is that you keep your body healthy. Make healthy choices in your eating habits. Exercise regularly. The formula is simple, but there is discipline required to carrying it out. You probably don’t have the time and money to hire a nutritionist and a personal trainer like the celebrities do. You also probably don’t have the access to the computer software that can take away many of the blemishes that those celebrities still have. So keep your body healthy and in shape and the comfort level of your appearance will increase.

Everyone compares. It is part of our human nature. Teenage girls compare themselves in a myriad of ways. This article has discussed only two of them. Hopefully the suggestions given can benefit you if this is something that you are struggling with.

Last week Mat and Summer discussed a unique way to think about looking for a job. This week they provide very practical advice that you can use in your search for employment.

We also wanted to thank everyone for listening. The support has been Great!

In our last podcast we discussed how amazing our world is. We talked about some of the incredible technology that makes our lives easier and more enjoyable. I can honestly say that I would not choose another time in history to be alive.  Seriously! Summer is coming upon us and in many parts of the country that means HEAT! How did people live without air conditioning. I am so grateful that someone had the idea that they could create an air conditioner.

Anyway, the point that I am trying to make is that just as we enjoy the fruit that grows from a tree, we enjoy the fruits of other peoples ideas. And just as we would not have any fruit from the tree if someone had not planted the seed, we would not havve any of these great things that make our life easier if someone had not planted and nurtured the thought that led to it’s creation.

Thoughts truly are the seed of great ideas.

So what do you spend your time thinking about? Are your thoughts getting you closer to self esteem and happiness? Are your thoughts keeping you stuck in mediocrity?

Pay attention to your thoughts, they manifest into your life.