much, habits can have asurprisingly big say in how you feel.
That’s why it’s important to begin
building the kind of habits that
will help you feel good.
Ready to learn how?
Read on!
Sometimes I get these really crazy
mood swings, and I feel like I hate
everyone or need to cry for no reason.
It’s not helping that I have a bunch
of tests and projects right now. Ugh!
—Alesya
HAPPINESS
HABIT 1
LETTING IT
SETTLE
All Shook Up
Your mind and a snow
globe: They don’t seem
to have much in common.
But lots of people say they
do. If you watch a snow
globe for a minute or two,
it’s easy to see why.
What happens when you give a snow globe a good shake? Flakes fly every-
where, of course. When the snow’s really stirred up, it can be hard even to see
who or what’s at the center. Our minds can get like that, too—thoughts and
feelings swirling this way and that. Sometimes they’re so stirred up that we
can’t see our own situation very clearly, either.
You know how it feels when your mind’s stirred up. When you get invited to
two parties on the same day. When Aris gets the drum solo after you prac-
ticed harder. When parents are arguing. When Elise, who you thought was a
friend, forms a homework club that doesn’t include you. It’s awfully hard to
make decisions or handle problems when there’s a storm swirling inside you.
If you could somehow keep from ever
getting jostled or stressed, you might
be able to keep any mental
blizzards from happening.
The truth is, that’s just
not possible.
Some days stir
up irritation,
impatience,
or uncertainty.
Other days
bring more
intense
feelings
like sadness,
anxiety, or
anger. One
thing’s guaran-
teed, though:
Every girl gets
shaken up by
something.
Storm Warnings
Do everyday troubles shake you up a little or a lot?
Give each situation your personal storm rating.
1. Your dolphin jigsaw puzzle has 1,001 pieces
in 1,000 shades of gray. It took you three weeks
to put it together . . . and it’s taken your
little sister three seconds to fling it apart.
a. major blizzard
b. a few flurries
c. clear skies
2. Mr. Yao, Mr. Bitterburst, and Ms. Leinhosen
must be conspiring. How else could you have
a science test, a book report, and a history
project due on the same day—again?
a. major blizzard
b. a few flurries
c. clear skies
3. Aisha’s mom thinks bronzer and colored lip
balm don’t count as makeup. Your mom says
they do, and there’s no way you’re wearing
them to school.
a. major blizzard
b. a few flurries
c. clear skies
4. Yesterday you got up the courage to
tell Camrelle that you kind of like A.J.
Today A.J. told Camrelle that he kind
of likes Mimi.
a. major blizzard
b. a few flurries
c. clear skies
5. Your parents can’t agree on where
you’re spending Thanksgiving—Mom’s house
or Dad’s. You’re starting to feel like a wish-
bone about to be tugged in two.
