Realiteen Talks

We’d all be better off if everything we hoped for or strove for resulted in fulfillment and success – but that wouldn’t be much of a life, either.

Disappointment is a natural part of life. There are plenty of failures to be had, things to let you down, and missteps to take. However, how you accept and deal with disappointment is within your control – and can make all the difference in the world.

On this episode of FranklinCovey Education’s Realiteen Talks, host and High School Practice Leader Gary McGuey was joined by a panel of teenage guests to talk about the art of accepting disappointment.

The panelists agreed that mindset is everything. If you’re determined to wallow in disappointment and setbacks, growth can’t occur. However, if you choose to view every failure and disappointment as a chance to learn something that could help you grow and become a better human being, you’ll flourish.

Still, that’s easier said than done, particularly in what’s been a difficult year-plus for everyone.

The panelists offered some advice and lessons they’ve learned in dealing with disappointment, including searching for opportunity in every disappointment, accepting yourself and the results when you’re genuinely putting in your best effort, and understanding what’s truly “disappointing” and what actually came from unfair expectations on yourself or others.

Everywhere you turn in today’s media landscape, a persistent theme reveals itself – we’ve become a society obsessed with image.

The expectation of perfection, which is wholly unrealistic and detrimental, can lead to significant challenges with how you perceive yourself. Your self-worth is in no way tied to your body image or any other single aspect of who you are – but it can sure feel like it is.

On this episode of FranklinCovey Education’s Realiteen Talks, host Gary McGuey, High School Practice Leader, was joined by a panel of teenage guests to discuss the often-sticky topic of body image and how they practice self-love.

“It’s constantly changing,” one panelist said. “I know I compare myself – I think it’s just natural instinct. But, as much as you want to compare yourself to social media and what’s going on, we have to realize that it’s always changing. We can’t change ourselves every single week depending on what the trend is now.”

The influence of celebrities, peers on social media and more is profound, and it affects everyone. However, teenagers can be ultra-susceptible to the impact of body image, particularly in the age of lives lived on social media.

To combat feelings of having to fit in or look or dress a certain way, the panelists said to work to understand what’s healthy and normal for your body, what makes you happy, how you want to be perceived, and more.

Mental Health and Wellness is a heavy topic, but it affects everyone in society, no matter socioeconomic status.

On this episode of Realiteen Talks, host Gary McGuey, High School Practice Leader for FranklinCovey Education, invited a panel of teenage guests to share how they deal with mental health and wellness, sharing opinions and strategies to overcome challenges they see every day.

The panelists felt people need to embrace the idea, “it’s okay to not be okay,” and that help cannot be effective until the problem is recognized, and the feelings identified with.

Help is out there, and there’s nothing wrong with needing professional intervention, from a psychologist or councilor. They pointed out that people in crisis shouldn’t be afraid to lean on their friends for support.

They also agreed that social media has had a negative effect on mental health, specifically in regards to the pandemic, because people compare themselves to what they see online, and there’s less in-person interaction.

The panelists shared suggestions of mental health and wellness tips for someone to utilize before they’re ready to seek help. These include: don’t beat yourself up, try some exercise or sports, focus on nutrition and sleep, as well as water intake. Avoid phone before bed, and focus on yourself; don’t take other people’s problems on.

There is a stigma regarding mental health and wellness, and until society works together toward acceptance, and recognizes the issues are valid and cannot be ignored, things won’t get better.

There’s nothing wrong with structure and routine – they can bring order to your life, help you be more efficient, and help you feel more in control.

However, what happens when you begin to run on autopilot and live by default, not design?

That’s the subject of this episode of FranklinCovey Education’s Realiteen Talks, where host Gary McGuey, High School Practice Leader, was joined by a panel of teenage guests to talk about living more intentionally.

The biggest indicator, the panelists agreed, of a lack of purpose is a lack of goals. Setting goals, both big and small, can keep your attention on the work you’ll need to do to achieve them. Whether it’s getting into the right college for you or retiring a millionaire, it all begins with intent.

The difference between living by default and by design is most apparent in how you respond to things in your life. Those living by default often let life happen to them, rolling with the punches and “going with the flow.” Those living by design make choices to exercise control over their own path.

While living by design can make goal setting and achievement simpler, there isn’t inherently anything wrong with living by default, particularly for short periods of time. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s important not to let yourself feel like you’re failing because your goals haven’t been achieved or you took a moment to pause, breathe and reset.

In the modern world, it’s impossible to escape digital means of communication. From social media to online work and school, more of our collective lives exists on the internet than it ever has before – and this can have drastic consequences when cyber bullies use anonymity and the ease of interaction to strike.

On this episode of Realiteen Talks, host Gary McGuey, High School Practice Leader for FranklinCovey Education, invited a panel of teenage guests to share how they work to fight back.

Part of the issue, the panelists said, is that many users of new apps and other online methods of communication don’t even realize that they can be a part of the problem. It’s not always direct threats or negative remarks – even a simple misplaced or misunderstood comment could have devastating effects.

When those little, seemingly harmless things add up, it becomes a much heavier weight for the person being bullied.

That makes it important to constantly be aware of the things you’re posting online, how you’re interacting with others, and what you’re contributing to the wider conversation. You can never truly know what someone is thinking or feeling, particularly in an online setting, so work to spread love and positivity, not anger or hate.

When you hear the words “social acceptance,” there are a variety of connotations that could follow. Does it mean doing whatever it takes to be liked, or simply finding a way to fit in?

On this episode of Realiteen Talks, host Gary McGuey, High School Practice Leader for FranklinCovey Education, invited a panel of teenage guests to share their own opinions on social acceptance.

Overall, social acceptance refers to the way you feel others perceive you in a certain group, which can change depending on who you’re interacting with. This is likely the basis for the common misconception that you need to “fit in” to others’ expectations.

The most important thing is not to change who you are to try and achieve that “perfect fit.” It’s most important to learn who you genuinely are, accept and love yourself, and find others who reciprocate that authenticity.

It’s also important to approach others with the same welcoming open-mindedness. You should offer understanding and empathy and work to find ways to gain insight into others’ perspectives, particularly in a time when social media, social unrest and more have caused tensions.

Cliques and natural groups will occur, but tolerance and participation in the advancement of inclusivity are also critical to helping forge a better world.

At 19, Anthony O’Neal was homeless with no hope in sight.

Now, he’s a bestselling author with a clear, stated goal of “helping students find and pursue their passions.”

On this special bonus episode of Realiteen Talks, hosted by FranklinCovey Education High School Practice Leader Gary McGuey, O’Neal joined a panel of teenage guests to talk financial literacy and navigating the challenges that come along with managing money, especially for young people.

Right off the bat, O’Neal revealed one of the key things teenagers often misunderstand when beginning their unique journeys with financial literacy.

“Young people don’t really take money seriously,” he said. “One of the biggest mistakes I see with high schoolers is they think money just falls from the tree. They believe that money is easy come and go. Money is intentional. What you do with your money will pay off.”

There are small steps every teen can take to be intentional with their finances. Have a budget, even if it’s a relatively simple one, and approach savings goals large and small with purpose. Whether it’s saving for prom or the eventual college or car of your dreams, you can begin today.

Tune into the full episode for more insights from O’Neal and our teenage panel.

Throughout the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world tremendously on a societal level – but it’s also affected many of us on a personal level.

Social distancing, stay-at-home orders and remote learning and work have made us more isolated than ever before, and that isolation is having a profound effect on mental and physical well-being.

On this episode of Realiteen Talks, FranklinCovey High School Practice Leader Gary McGuey invited a panel of three teenagers to discuss their own experience with pandemic-related isolation – and how they’ve worked to overcome it.

Even in the case of physical interaction, distancing and masks have limited our ability to send and receive messages of positivity. There are also a lot of milestones being missed, at least in their traditional forms, as Sweet 16s, sports events, school dances, and more have been put on hold.

However, there are strategies for helping one another cope.

In particular, adopting a more positive outlook can help. Instead of thinking, “Why me?,” try to think about the things that you’re grateful for.

And, even though they’re no substitute for in-person interaction, there are real, tangible benefits to video chatting with friends, finding a positive hobby, spending time with family, and talking about how you’re feeling with those close to you.

Toxic relationships conjure images of significant others that aren't right for one another, or perhaps of a friend who chooses to put you down instead of supporting you. However, these toxic relationships can truly be with anyone, and they're more common for teens than many realize.

On this episode of Realiteen Talks, host Gary McGuey, High School Practice Leader for FranklinCovey Education, hosts a discussion with a panel of teenage guests on toxic relationships — and how to repair or leave them.

Toxic relationships could describe interactions with friends, family or even strangers on social media. Today's panelists also said that they think the majority of teens have been in at least one toxic relationship, which can have extremely damaging effects.

They contrasted a toxic relationship with a healthy one, noting that, “in healthy relationships, [we] feel good, full and accomplished.”

The panelists agreed that many people don’t even know they are in a toxic relationship, adding that "you may ignore red flags, at first, because you like them so much.”

Once someone knows a relationship is toxic, it can be hard to leave it. A good process, though, is to “self-assess, look at the pros and cons, and communicate.” Talking to others you trust can also provide needed perspective.

Ultimately, the decision to walk away is on the person in the relationship. "You can only change yourself. If I’m in a relationship I don’t like, I can get stronger and overcome it.”

For those struggling, self-love is vital to leaving these relationships, and today's guests offered a number of ways you can engage in that beneficial practice.

It’s impossible to escape the influence of social media. Even for those who don’t participate, it has a measurable impact on our day-to-day lives, from influencers and celebrities to everyday teenagers.

With that omnipresent nature comes potential pitfalls.

Social media is a great tool for meeting new friends, sharing common interests, entertainment, and more, but it’s critical to practice careful stewardship of your online presence and personal “brand.”

That’s the subject of this episode of Realiteen Talks, as host and FranklinCovey Education High School Practice Leader Gary McGuey invited a three-teenager panel of firsthand experts to discuss how they care for their own social brand.

That’s because a person’s “social brand” also extends to the real world and how others interact with them. Everything is intertwined, and people that have never met you can now from an opinion of who you are – or seem to be – simply from digital interactions and content.

In discussing this enormous topic, McGuey and his guests offered several key insights, such as posting about your personal beliefs and convictions, keeping your eye on the wider context of everything you post, and considering how your social brand could affect life choices down the road.