Book excerpt: Powerful mindfulness tools to help you move beyond self-harming thoughts and behaviors, so you can get back to living your life. Being a teen in today’s world isn’t easy. Maybe you’ve been bullied. Maybe you feel like your family or friends just don’t get you. Or maybe you feel like you don’t have control of your life, or you’re just tired of trying to be perfect all the time. You aren’t alone. Many teens struggle with difficult feelings and thoughts—and sometimes, when these thoughts feel overwhelming, you just want to feel something else. This is where self-harming behaviors, such as cutting, come in. But there are better ways to manage your pain. This book will help guide you. In this workbook, you’ll learn about the power of mindfulness, and how it can help you create your own special space for simply being with your thoughts. When you’re dealing with difficult emotions, you’ll have this safe space to go to again and again—no matter where you are or what you’re doing. You’ll learn how to be mindful of your senses, techniques for managing difficult feelings before they escalate, and move past self-judgment to embrace self-compassion and self-awareness. Pain is a normal part of life—it’s how you react to this pain that really matters. Let this workbook guide you toward better strategies for dealing with stress and emotional pain, so you can be safe, happy, and in control of your life.