Teenage Discipline - Zen And The Art Of Teenage Discipline

1. STOP!
"What they heck do you mean stop!?" I know. It sounds crazy. But, first you need to stop. Stop the endless chatter of thoughts in your own mind. Stop the worrying, stop obsessing. Going to your child with all of this bouncing around inside your mind is going to translate like an angry, anxiety filled whirlwind. They will sense that your body language is not relaxed, and your words will be defensive. This will cause them to shut down. Sound familiar?

2. RELAX
Exercise. Go for a walk. Expend some good energy. Sweat. Make love. Get a massage. Whatever you have to do to get the energy out. You can't be relaxed in mind, if you are not first relaxed in body. This is key.

3. BREATHE
Don't forget to breathe. Have you ever noticed that when you are angry, or experiencing anxiety that your breath becomes very shallow and short? We all do this. Spend some time sitting silently and just focus on your breath. Breathe in with the nose, and out with the nose. Breathe naturally and you will notice that the breaths will become deeper without being forced. They will be slower. You will be calm. 5 minutes of this can make a world of difference.

4. KEEP AN OPEN MIND
Some of these techniques may take you out of your comfort zone. You may instantly decide that they will not make a difference. You may be thinking "What does any of this have to do with teenage discipline"? Well, let me tell you this. What you're doing now isn't working. And, I bet you wouldn't be reading this if you already didn't know that. Teenage discipline is not rocket science. But, it takes practice, and a ton of patience. How can you expect your teenager to change, if you won't make a change in yourself?

5. TRUST
Trust yourself. Trust the fact that you have the ability to deal with this. Trust that you are a good parent. Trust that this will get better. Trust that your child will improve. Trust that it is a process. Trust the process. Human beings are the most advanced animals on Earth. There are limitless possibilities available to us at any moment. The universe is a cosmic buffet. It's all here. Trust that.

Teenage discipline is very real, and with a bit of practice, and a lot of patience, your situation will improve. Painting is an art. Writing a song is an art. Teenage discipline is also an art. Remember the old cliche "How do you get to Carnagie Hall"? "Practice, Practice, Practice". The art of teenage discipline is no exception.

If you would like Additional resources on teenage discipline and parenting, check out "The Guide To Honest Parenting" By Daniel Craven. Daniel is a psychologist who has worked with kids of all backgrounds and their parents to restore sanity to family life. He used to be a troubled teen. His "parenting style" was developed from some things that his own parents used on him. The link below will take you to his site where you can get his e book as well as receive his newsletter and get email and phone support directly from Daniel or a member of his parenting staff. Get this book and you will soon discover the Zen in the art of teenage discipline.