Teaching Teens to Train Their Brains to Boost Their Confidence

A human brain is a dynamic place. It’s constantly changing with every thought you have and action you take. While this is the natural tendency of every brain, the brains of teenagers are especially adept at evolving. The teen years are a critical period in terms of neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to create new neurons and new connections. As a result, this time in a teen’s life is crucial for boosting confidence, enhancing self-esteem, and introducing the importance of self-worth. Since the teenage years are pivotal in how teens view themselves and the world, it’s important to teach them proactive habits, including the importance of neuroplasticity, and how exercise, focused breathing, and taking a break from social media can impact their self-esteem.

Neuroplasticity: The Secret To Training Your Brian

During the mid to late teenage years, the human brain is working to become as efficient as possible. It does this by pruning the neurons and connections that aren’t being used. The neurons and connections that are used regularly, become the main focus and are strengthened and optimized for improved brain health. Drug abuse, alcohol consumption, smoking cigarettes, and anything that inhibits this process, cause unhealthy changes in the brain. In fact, smoking marijuana regularly at an early age interferes with neuroplasticity in the brains of teenagers.

As a neurologist, If I compare the brain of someone who’s regularly used marijuana since their teen years to someone who has never used marijuana, I’ll most likely see a difference. The brain of the chronic user will weigh more than the person who’s never used marijuana. This happens because the brain of the chronic user hasn’t been able to shed the excess neurons and connections that it no longer needs. As a result, the chronic user’s brain doesn’t work as efficiently as it should, and they may be cognitively slower.  

Outside of avoiding substance abuse of any kind, there are a lot of options teenagers can enjoy every day. Each time a teen chooses healthy lifestyle options, they’re changing the structure and function of their brains in positive ways and boosting their self-confidence. Here are a few options.

The Joy of Exercise

Aside from the physical changes that exercise causes in the body, it also has several psychological effects. Exercise increases your sense of control, allows you to meet your goals, teaches you how to cooperate with others, and distracts you from the worries of life. All of this helps boost self-confidence. Exercise is the biggest promoter of neuroplasticity and one of the first steps in changing your life perspective. Regular exercise gives your brain everything you need to be successful personally, professionally, socially, mentally, and physically. Exercise re-wires your brain for success which increases self-esteem automatically. When you look good you feel good.

Pausing to Breathe and Avoid Chronic Stress

Your vital functions, such as your blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and respiratory rate, are so important that mother nature couldn’t leave them up to chance; she made them automatic. Your heart beats and your lungs take air in, without you ever having to think. These automatic systems are beyond your control, with the exception of your breathing. Even though breathing happens automatically, you can easily change your respiratory rate. Do you know why? It’s because you can use your breathing to signal to your brain that you’re safe.

When you’re in danger, and your life is or feels threatened, your brain signals to your lungs to breath quicker in order to get enough oxygen into your muscles for fight or flight. If you’re able to take a deep breath at the moment, it means the danger has subsided. That’s why deep breathing is so important in mindfulness and in other meditations. It lets your brain know that you’re safe and in turn, your brain tells the rest of your body know to relax. Deep breathing alleviates your stress response. When you’re feeling safe and free from stress, there’s less to worry about and more to look forward to in life. That’s an all-natural way to boost your confidence and outlook on life.

Try this 1-minute breathing exercise whenever you find yourself flustered or worried.

Social Media: Take a Break

Stories are incredibly powerful, and social media is about who can tell the best stories. When you listen to the stories that others share, it brings you closer together. Sharing stories is a very intimate and primitive act for humans. Stories that you aren’t directly part of, light up more parts of your brain than taking in factual information. They’re a powerful way to communicate, build relationships, sell products and ideas, and inspire others. Stories are incredibly powerful because of the way your brain processes them. 

When your brain hears or reads a compelling story, it activates neurons in patterns that are similar to the storyteller’s brain. Have you ever heard of mirror neurons? Mirror neurons are neurons that fire when you observe the actions of someone else, which then compels you to perform that same action. So if I see you touch your forehead while you’re telling me a story, I’m more likely to touch my forehead. Mirroring connects you by synchronizing your brain to the storyteller by copying behavior.

Whose Stories Are You Mimicking

What stories are you taking in on social media and therefore telling yourself about who you are? The stories you tell yourself have a way of either fostering your greatness or holding you back. It’s the stories that dictate your life. They determine the actions you take and sometimes more importantly the actions you don’t take.

Teens, especially now, are wired to phones and social media. Using social media moderately and engaging with people who have positive messages can help the already evolving teenage brain build self-esteem and confidence.

The Teen Years Are Crucial

The teenage brain is undergoing a critical period in its development. Being intentional about the messages you take in, the thoughts you have, and the actions you take are important at any time in your life. But the teen years have the additional advantage of being primed for neuroplasticity. The teenage years are the ideal times to use exercise, breathing, and even social media to boost self-confidence and raise self-esteem.  

As a parent, promote healthy lifestyle choices that promote fun, new, and stimulating experiences. As a teen, do the same for yourself. Find exercises, sports, or activities that move your body. Take a minute to pause, reflect, and readjust your breathing if you feel stressed. And work to limit the amount of negative content on your social media feed. Who you develop into during these years, can shape who you’ll be for the rest of your life. The more you make healthier choices today, the less you’ll make unhealthy choices in the future.

For more ways to train your brain and understand the power and benefits of neuroplasticity, purchase a copy of my book, Neuroplasticity: Your Brain's Superpower