phantompharoah

 TEENAGE FUTURE

 Adolescence is a very important time in a persons development. It is also the age group which is most susceptible to external or peer pressure. Rebellion and the pushing of boundaries is a necessary part of finding your own direction.

If early life experiences have not enabled you to develop a grounded sense of where you belong, either within a family setting, or society as a whole; then very damaging long term consequences can arise.

Low self esteem, and an inferiority complex,stem from this lack of foundation.

To compensate for this, anti-social, or self destructive behavior patterns,often develop.

This can totally stifle a persons potential. The talents available in each and every one of us are enormous but very few people are fortunate enough to recognise a definite life path.

Taking the wrong steps at this crucial stage of development can either prevent a true path from ever being found,or leave you with a life long task of recovering from the damage.

Don’t let doing what everyone else wants become the only way you can live.

The desire to belong is a natural part of the human herd instinct. Finding the courage to be true to yourself within this framework, will bring you far greater rewards than any peer acceptance.

It is an unfortunate fact that it is often the very talented who end up as casualties in this process. To see or experience things in a different way to others is what makes these people unique. Unfortunately this very difference can make them feel isolated or insecure and they will try to mask or block out their difference.

Only by reaching a point of understanding that your existence is important, and learning to celebrate your difference, will the path to which you are most suited unfold.

What you end up working at is far less important than who you end up being.

Make the effort to find your inner voice; and be sure to give it time to sing.

Living in harmony with others is vital to finding your right path. Allowing feelings of frustration to grow in to anger, or self hatred, will only feed any insecurities you may have.

We live in a world where the pressures to survive, let alone succeed, are getting more and more intense. Knowing your own self worth is essential to being able to avoid being overwhelmed.

The general breakdown of social cohesion means more and more young people are having to face their future without a sufficiently nurturing background. Their choices and the possible pitfalls they face are even worse than for my generation.

We went in to adulthood with the threat of nuclear annihilation on the table. This generation faces the threat of Global meltdown.

Without a major shift in attitude there is no possibility of preventing an eventual social breakdown.

The greed and selfishness that is behind the current sorry state of the planet has to begin being replaced by a more equal system of wealth distribution.

Otherwise there will be nothing worth while left for future generations of teenagers.

 Where would you rather live

 In a fortified bunker with gold bath taps and 24 hr surveillance?

 In a community of unlocked doors and group support?


My Experience

  I painted this in 1983. It reflects the apprehension I felt as a teenager about facing the world at large.

Having failed to find any sort of direction within the education system, and a sense of being a failure to my parents, meant I was pretty much adrift.

Numbing myself with drug abuse to avoid the insecurities was unfortunately the path I took. This is most definitely not to be recommended.

Drugs filled an emotional void for me; providing a false sense of happiness.

 It is nearly 30 years since I stopped using drugs;and their effects still linger on. My Meditation practice has enabled me to eradicate vast amounts of the damage done. It has also shown me very clearly, that drugs only delay the time when you have to face your own inner demons.

Excessive drug or alcohol use at this time of your development simply stops a crucial period of growth. It may start up later, but then again if the damage is too great it won’t.

Changing the past is impossible. Regrets, remorse or blaming are useless emotions which will only delay any recovery.

Attempting to ensure your actions to both yourself, and all others, are benevolent will lead towards a future you can enjoy.

Choosing oblivion is a very easy course to take. Choosing not to allows you to shine.

 Would you have the courage to refuse to get stoned or drunk?

 If you do get stoned or drunk, would you have the courage to back up, and support, a friend who was getting ridiculed for choosing not to?

Are you facing the future happily and confidently?