As parents, we all experience moments where our emotions seem to outweigh the situation at hand. You might have found yourself in a scenario where your teenager doesn’t respond to you as they’re walking up the stairs. Perhaps you’ve asked a question, and instead of getting a reply, you’re met with silence. The frustration builds, and before you know it, you’re in a rage.

Wise Mind is the balanced, centered state where logic and emotion intersect. It’s that inner knowing we tap into when we’re making decisions that align with our true selves—decisions that honor both our rational thoughts and our emotional experiences. For teenagers, who are often swayed by intense emotions or rigid logic, cultivating Wise Mind can be particularly valuable.

Describing emotions can be tricky, especially when we struggle to pinpoint exactly how we feel or how to express those feelings in words. This challenge is even more pronounced for teens, who are navigating a whirlwind of changes. At Creative Healing, we help teens make sense of their emotions by guiding them to recognize and understand their emotional patterns.

Understanding the difference between willingness and willfulness can significantly impact how you manage your emotions and help your teenager navigate theirs. Willingness is about being open, accepting, and flexible. It means doing what is needed in a situation, even if it’s uncomfortable or not what you want to do because your emotions are pulling you in a different direction. Imagine being a leaf in a stream, moving with the current rather than fighting against it. Practicing radical acceptance—accepting a situation as it is—can greatly decrease your suffering.

Radical acceptance is one of the most powerful yet abstract skills taught in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). It’s a concept that can be hard to grasp and even harder to practice, but its ability to ease suffering is profound.