Cara Filler Youth Motivational Speaker BLOG - Cara Filler Youth Motivational Speaker

A Letter To My Younger Self

Posted on30 Dec 2014

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Dear younger me, I know you are in one of those life stages when you think you know everything and don’t have to listen to anyone, but you don’t know everything and you have to listen to me because, well, I’m you… You know those things that keep you up late worrying? They all turn out to be just fine. Some don’t end up with way you thought, but everything turns out better than you feared. Stop worrying and get some sleep (older you thanks you for that!). I know you feel like a terribly awkward mess somedays, but here’s a secret: so do most people your age. Stop trying to hide your loud laugh – it is joyful and you should laugh more often. Settle into yourself. In addition to this advice, there is something else you should listen to – your gut. Listen to it, trust it, cherish it. It’s the...

Parents Just Don’t Understand (or Do They)?

Posted on28 Dec 2014

Tagscommunication, parents, teenagers

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Your mom didn’t walk to school uphill both ways in Ugs or Toms, but she did wait for the bus in platforms. She also harbored a secret crush on that cute boy in math class, and she fought with her mother, too. And your dad? He broke out in a sweat when he first asked your mom out, and he desperately wanted to fit in (hence the sideburns). You may not realize it now – but your parents were just like you at some time. At some point, your mom and dad were right where you are now. It’s hard to picture them as young adults with the same worries, concerns and fears you have, but even though it may have been 20 or 30 years ago, they did. They had lives before you, and they shared a lot of the experiences and situations you are going through right now. Scary teachers,...

My Superpower? Being Indestructible!

Posted on25 Nov 2014

Tagsself-esteem, success

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If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Would you choose the power of flight? To read people’s minds? To look fabulous in skinny jeans? To be indestructible? I unfortunately can’t help you with the first three, but that last one – being indestructible – is totally possible. Being indestructible means having an undefeated mind, one that faces adversity calmly and rebounds from it confidently. It means getting up each day, each week, each month to attack the obstacles that stand before us again and again. That’s a pretty cool superpower, right? Disclaimer: being indestructible does not mean that you won’t ever feel despair or discouraged (this is life that we are talking about here, after all…), but it does mean that you will continue on despite those feelings. You can’t control what happens to you in life, but you certainly can control the amount of suffering it brings. Resilience isn’t...

Setting Goals: Five Easy Steps to Success

Posted on11 Nov 2014

Tagsgoals, success

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Why are some people more successful than others? The reason – and this may surprise you – is not because they are more talented or smarter or better looking or more popular or more anything. The reason is because they know the importance of setting goals and making a plan to reach them. I’ll let you in on a secret: You can accomplish anything you put your mind to, but you have to have a plan for getting there first. Life has a way of tossing curveballs, but you can get past them if you have a plan. Creating a plan isn’t as hard as you might think. In fact, it takes just five easy steps to achieve your goals: 1. Identifying and Setting Goals The first step toward setting goals is to identify what it is you want to do. What’s your aspiration? To ace your next math test? Earn a spot...

Silencing Your Inner Critic

Posted on13 Oct 2014

Tagsself-confidence, self-esteem

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Sometimes, a bit of self-criticism can be the reality check you need to be a better person. Other times, it can cause us to concentrate too much on our so-called failures instead of ways we can improve. It’s the difference between looking at yourself in the mirror and saying “I should work out more” and “I am a gross, jiggly blob.” That kind of excessive self-criticism is neither helpful nor healthy, and your trash-talking inner critic can cause you long term effects, like depression and higher stress levels. Put a muzzle on your harsh inner critic by following these tips: Practice Possible Thinking That’s right – I said “possible,” not “positive.” Staying positive is great, but if you are really down, your inner lie detector will go off when you try to force positivity, and you may end up feeling even worse. Instead, silence your inner critic with possible thinking. Direct your thoughts...

Dealing with Mean Girls (and Guys)!

Posted on15 Sep 2014

Tagsanti-bullying, bullying

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At one point or another, everyone falls victim to the mean girls (or the mean boys). Maybe it’s because you forgot it was Wednesday and wore blue instead of pink, or maybe it’s because you got an answer wrong in English or spilled ketchup on your uniform or…whatever. It’s more likely that you did nothing wrong at all – mean girls and mean guys make other people their victims because it makes them feel better about themselves. They lack self-esteem, so they leech it from others whenever they can. That’s pretty sad, but it can feel crushing when they do it to you. We’ve all known mean girls and guys, but that doesn’t mean we have to put up with them. Next time you encounter these types of people, follow these tips to deal: Stand Up to Them Often, all it takes is one person to refuse to be hurt and to stand...