When people connect to things outside of themselves, it puts things into perspective and makes it easier to focus on their internal self more than their external packaging. Self worth that is based on looks becomes a slippery slope, because all it takes is one pimple, one negative comment online, one bad hair day to chip away at a person's self-confidence. If we can teach youth to understand that inner beauty trumps outer appearance any day of the week then they can build their self-confidence on a solid foundation. 

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Pursuing a meaningful life where the focus is on pursuing dreams and being happy is a great way to gain a deeper perspective on a person's identity. Here's a few practices to start down the path of a meaningful life: 

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Choose happiness. Not every day is a home-run. Sometimes the dog really does eat your homework, your crush asks someone else to the dance, and you miss a game-winning basket. These are the days a person just wants to fast-forward through to the end. The important thing to remember is that everyone experiences these days. Your inner self and outer self share similar feelings. If you're having a great day because you aced a test, someone complimented your speech, and your best friend asked you to the movies then you probably feel pretty good on the outside too. If your day has been a disaster, try to remember these feelings ... whether it's a joke you heard last week, a funny YouTube video, or a fun outing with your friend. The act of smiling will start to make you feel better.

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Help someone else. Have you ever heard the saying "I'm doing this as much for myself as I'm doing it for you?" This is what happens when you reach out and help someone else with no expectation of anything in return. Helping people feels good. It gives you a sense of being needed, pride, and personal satisfaction. If you can look around you and see what other people are experiencing it's easier to let go of petty concerns and get a big picture perspective. You don't have to make a grand gesture to help someone ... sometimes it's a matter of picking up the phone to lend a sympathetic ear, delivering homework to someone who's home sick, or inviting the new kid to sit with you at lunch. 

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Put your body to work. Get positive energy flowing by practicing yoga, exercising, or doing anything active. Physical activity releases endorphins and makes you feel calm and happy. It's not often you'll hear someone say "I sure wish I hadn't worked out", and that's because putting your body into motion makes you feel good physically and emotionally. 

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Find inner peace. Give meditation a try. It's a great way to empty your brain of stressful thoughts and create a calming mood. Your biggest focus is on your breathing and relaxing the muscles in your body. This is something you can do at home and doesn't require any special equipment or training. You can find techniques online or download apps that will walk you through the steps. Nothing creates a mind-body connection faster than the practice of meditation.