I've just finished reading Mastering Your Mean Girl by self-help guru, Melissa Ambrosini. Let's face it, we've all got a mean girl, that nasty voice in your head that tells you you're not good enough, not pretty enough, not worthy enough... In her book, Melissa explains how you can defeat your inner mean girl. She says that at any moment you can choose love or fear. For example, 
LOVE - I exercise because I love my body; or
FEAR - I exercise because I hate the size of my bum and thighs.
Throughout the book there are opportunities for you to write down actions you can take to change the way you think.  It is not specifically written for teen girls but it would be really useful to know this stuff while you're in your teens. I wish I'd known this stuff in high school. You can visit her website here.

Some brilliant lyrics:
Wish I didn't think I had the answers
Wish I didn't drink all of that flask first
Wish I made it to homecoming
Got up the courage to ask her
Wish I would've gotten out of my shell
Wish I put the bottle back on the shelf
Wish I wouldn't have worried about what other people thought
And felt comfortable in myself

Been scared of the future, thinking' about the past
While missing out on now.
 

It is a normal part of the human existence to feel down sometimes. This can be due to difficult circumstances, depression, hormones... Everyone has felt loneliness, self-doubt, fear, depressed etc. You're not alone. Just because you experience these feelings, it doesn't mean you have to wallow in them. You can rise above your feelings. Here some ideas to help you get out of your funk:

• Go for a walk or run
• Do some exercise
• Meet a friend for a coffee, smoothie, juice...
• Put on some good music and dance like no-one is watching
• Play a boardgames with your family
• Watch a funny tv show
• Dust off your bike and go for a ride
• Put on some nice clothes and go window shopping with a friend
• Walk the dog - if you don't have one, walk someone else's dog (ask them first)
• Find someone to throw a frisbee with at the park
• Go to the zoo 
• Bake a cake for someone
• Get crafty and make something
• Smile and act happy (fake it till you make it).

If you have been feeling down for a long time and it is affecting your day to day life talk to someone. If you can't face tomorrow ring Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.

It's exam time. Here are 5 steps to study success from Reachout. You can read the  full article on study success here.

One More Light is a tribute to Linkin Park to their lead singer, Chester Bennington, who took his life earlier this year. This song reminds us that there is always someone who cares. If you, or someone you love is struggling contact one of the following organisations:
Lifeline: 131 11 44
Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800
Suicide Callback Service: 1300 65 94 67
www.kidshelp.com.au
www.reachout.com.au
www.headspace.org.au
www.youthbeyondblue.com
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The Carly Ryan foundation was started by Carly's mother after the 15 year old South Australian girl was killed by someone she met online. She thought she had met an 18 year old musician from Melbourne when in fact she was chatting to a 50 year old predator and paedophile. The foundation has information on how to stay safe online - you can find it here. According to the website, the first rule of online safety is to remain as anonymous as possible. You wouldn't give out your information to random strangers on the street and you shouldn't do it online either.