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Have you ever noticed that sometimes you might feel like you're not quite the same person you used to be? Maybe the music you loved last year seems a bit boring now, or you're suddenly interested in subjects that you never cared about before. As a fourteen-year-old, you're in a phase of rapid change both physically and emotionally. Growth isn't just about getting taller; it's also about how your thinking and feelings evolve. It's completely natural to change, and it can even be exciting. But it can also be a little confusing. Let's talk about what this means and how you can handle it.

Understanding Why We Change

During your teenage years, lots of changes happen. There are the obvious physical changes, but your brain is changing a lot too. Between childhood and adulthood, our brains go through a major reorganisation. This is why your emotions, interests, and even your opinions might start to shift.

Believe it or not, your experiences and the people around you play a big part in these changes. Every new experience or piece of information can influence how you think and feel about things. Whether it's a book that makes you see the world differently, or a new friend who introduces you to a new hobby or music, these factors can trigger changes in your interests and beliefs.

How Change Can Affect You

Changing isn't just about getting new hobbies or tastes. It might also change how you relate to your friends and family. For example, maybe you and your best friend always bonded over a shared love of football, but now you find yourself more interested in art or music. It might feel like you're drifting away from old friendships or even having different values or beliefs than your family.

This can feel a bit lonely or confusing, especially if it feels like you're the only one who's changing. But remember, change is a part of growing up, and it happens to everyone. It's okay to feel different or unsure about these new aspects of yourself. It's all a part of figuring out who you are and who you want to be.

Strategies to Manage Personal Change

So, what can you do if you're noticing changes in yourself? Here are some practical steps you can take to manage and embrace your changing self.

1. Keep an Open Mind

Try to see changes as exciting opportunities to learn and grow. Being open to new things can help you discover passions and talents you never knew you had. Plus, staying curious keeps life interesting!

2. Communicate Your Feelings

It's important to talk about what you're going through. This could be with friends, family, or even a teacher or counsellor. Sharing what you feel doesn't just help you feel better, but it also helps others to understand you better as you change.

3. Explore New Interests Confidently

If you find yourself curious about a new hobby, give it a try! Join a club, read a book about it, or start a new project. This can help you connect with like-minded people who share your new interests potentially leading to new friendships.

4. Reflect on Your Changes

Keeping a diary can be a great way to handle your thoughts and feelings. You can write down what you feel each day and what's changing for you. Over time, you can look back and see how you've grown and changed. This reflection can also help you make sense of your thoughts and feelings.

5. Give Yourself Time

Change doesn't happen overnight, and adjusting to it takes time. Give yourself permission to grow at your own pace. It's absolutely fine to take your time to understand your new interests and feelings.

Life is a journey, not a destination

Remember, being different from how you were before doesn't mean you're losing your 'true' self it's part of developing into who you're meant to be. Everyone changes throughout their lives; it's how we learn, grow, and understand the world. As you continue to grow, try to enjoy the process of discovering who you are and who you might become. You're just getting started, and there's a lot of exciting stuff ahead!

Change can also lead to growth and personal development. By understanding and embracing the changes within yourself, you open up more room for discovery and connection with others. Acknowledge and celebrate who you are becoming, and don't shy away from evolving further. After all, change is one of the few constants in life, and handling it well can lead to a rich and fulfilling life.

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How are you feeling?

It is really important that when we need help, we feel able to ask for it. This could be speaking to a parent, a close friend, a teacher or someone else you trust. Sometimes it can be really hard to share our feelings with other people but if we are feeling low or don't know where to turn, sharing with others is really important. Teachers will always take you seriously and listen to your problems in confidence if you approach them for help. Likewise, parents, siblings or friends will help you if you reach out to them.

If you feel like you can't speak to anyone you know, there are people and organisations that can help support you:

• Childline - Call them on 0800 1111 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• NSPCC - Call them on 0808 800 5000 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or email them on help@NSPCC.org.uk
• The Samaritans – Call them on 116 123 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• SANE – Call 0300 304 7000 for support (4:30pm - 10:30pm every day)
• Mind – Call 0300 123 3393 (9:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday)

*Sometimes we will use real life examples in our articles to aid understanding. When we do, names and ages will be changed.