Will you know how to respond if you’re being bullied? Take my Inspired Quiz.

1. When someone begins to bully you, you should:

A) Walk away. If you walk away, ignore them, or calmly and assertively tell them you’re not interested in what they have to say, you’re demonstrating that they don’t have control over you.

B) React with anger and retaliate with physical force.

2. A more effective response to bullying is:

A) To report the bullying to a trusted adult.

B) Don’t report threats and assaults. A bully will often become more and more aggressive because they’ll find out that you told on them.

3. If bullying continues to occur:

A) Be as persistent as the bully. Report each and every bullying incident until it stops.

B) Grit your teeth and bare it. There’s nothing you can do but try to ride it out until the end of the year.

4. If you’re being cyber-bullied:

A) Do not respond. Instead, block the cyber-bully and be sure to save and print out emails, text messages or screen shots. Report inappropriate messages to an Internet service provider or website moderator; report threats to the police.

B) Respond immediately to their text messages, IMs and other forms of cyber-bullying. You want to let them know what’s on your mind.

5. The healthier way to deal with frustration is to:

A) Look at the big picture. Bullying can be extremely painful, but try asking yourself how important it will seem to you in the long run. Will it matter in a year? Is it worth getting so upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere.

B) Hold on to your anger and how you feel and remain angry. Try to be in control of everything that’s happening and try to get your bullies to see things your way.

6. When you’re feeling isolated:

A) Share your feelings. Talk to a parent, counselor, coach, religious leader, or trusted friend. Expressing what you’re going through can make a huge difference to the way you feel, even if it doesn’t change the situation.

B) Continue to avoid new people. Trying to find new friends at a youth group, book club, or religious organization will only increase the chance that you’ll face more bullies.

QUIZ RESULTS

If you answered with mostly As, good job! You have just the right instincts when it comes to dealing with bullies.

If you answered with mostly Bs, you need help with your situation. Be sure to read these helpful articles about dealing with bullies. Always reach out for help and never settle for being bullied. Speak out until it stops!

Notes:

1. Bullies want to know they have control over your emotions so don’t react with anger or retaliate with physical force.

2. In many cases adults can find ways to help with the problem without letting the bully know it was you who reported them.

3. There is no reason for you to ever put up with bullying.

4. The bully wants to feel in control of your emotions, so the best response is no response.

5. Many things in life are beyond our control—including the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing, focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to bullies. Try to find the positive in things including your gifts and what you like about yourself. Also, try to find the humor in the situation. If you’re able to relax enough to see the humor in it, you’ll likely be of less interest to the bullies.

6. Having trusted people you can turn to for encouragement and support will boost your resilience when being bullied. Learn a new sport, join a team, or take up a new hobby such as chess, art, or music and always strive to find good friends who share the same interests and values as you.

Have you successfully put a bully in their place in the past? Share your story in the comments and inspire other readers to face their bullies.

Source: helpguide.org

Whatever your concern, if you’re passionate about it and you want to advocate your cause, consider the following steps:

1. Understand your cause. You may think you have a strong concern about something, but in order to argue it, you need to understand everything about it. This is because you’ll run into people who oppose you. Try your best to understand everything about your cause, including its origin, who is being harmed, your goal and your solutions.
2. Write a letter to the person in charge. It may be the editor of a magazine or the producer of a show. Find out who is the best person to contact about your concerns. Again, this requires doing some homework. Then, lay out your concern, your goal and your suggested solutions in your letter.
3. Get the word out about your cause!

• Post your cause on a petition site, such as change.org. Getting hundreds or thousands of people to support you and your cause will strengthen its credibility. Additionally, you’ll get a great understanding of how important this issue is to others.
• If the cause is within your own community, design and print up some flyers. Make those in your community aware of the issue and see how they feel.
• If the cause is a larger issue, you may want to contact a media outlet, such as a local radio or television station. You may be asked to speak about your concern, so be prepared.

Don’t doubt your ability to create change and don’t give up. It’s amazing what one person can do. Take Julia Bluhm, as an example!.

14-year old Bluhm has her own mission. The eighth-grader from Maine was tired of all the Photoshopping in the teen publication Seventeen.

So she decided to make a change by posting a petition on change.org urging the magazine editor to publish at least one monthly photo spread devoid of Photoshopped treatments of models.

An avid ballet dancer, Bluhm is familiar with girls who are obsessed with their weight. She also understands that girls who feel pressured by images in fashion magazines often opt for unhealthy solutions, such as extreme dieting and eating disorders. When these magazine standards of perfection aren’t met, many young girls get depressed or develop low self-esteem. But unbeknownst to many of these girls, these images are highly Photoshopped to unrealistic levels, so their efforts are often in vain.

I started this petition to help girls see that they’re not alone. Seventeen magazine is supposed to be a relatable magazine, right? How can we relate to computer altered photos? Seventeen is popular with my friends and lots of teen girls. If they agree to print one unaltered spread a month, they could start a trend that will help so many girls like me feel better about their bodies (Julia Bluhm).

The petition has gained a lot of traction, and to even Bluhm’s surprise, she was able to hand-deliver it with almost 25,000 signatures.

Bluhm also met with Seventeen‘s editor Ann Shoket. Even though Shoket chose not to adopt Bluhm’s idea of one non-Photoshopped spread per month, the eighth-grader is not deterred.

I think the tenacity of this young lady should be praised. She has proven that even a young girl can make a big difference.

Although Bluhm has not achieved her goal yet, she has traveled further in her journey than she ever thought possible. Even now, the names on her petition are adding up. By May 11, the petition had collected over 68,000 signatures. That’s amazing!

PI girls, Bluhm is a prime example of how much one person can do and how many people she can reach. Even here on Project Inspired, our own Nicole Weider is working hard to make a difference. Her petition on change.com is calling for Cosmopolitan to be sold in a non-transparent wrapper and sold to adults only because of its explicit and often pornographic content and covers.

Ladies, let’s pray for Julia Bluhm and Nicole. May their missions be strengthened in momentum, and may God bless their selfless efforts to protect young girls. And may their efforts be successful.

Do you have a cause you would like to advocate? Do Julie and Nicole inspire you?

Below is an awesome video of young cancer patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital who are lip-syncing to Clarkson’s song. I think it’s so inspiring and the video’s currently a huge Internet hit. Check it out!

22-year-old leukemia patient Chris Rumble came up with the idea. He wanted to send something back to his former hockey teammates after they sent him a music video. Rumble felt Clarkson’s song reflected how he and other cancer patients were feeling.

When Clarkson saw the video, she was touched. She sent a message back to the patients telling them that it meant so much to her and she plans to visit.

It was not only good to see the kids happy, but it was also great to see how their parents were so happy as they watched their kids just being kids–dancing, singing and having fun (Chris Rumble).

Rumble’s video is also part of Seattle Children’s Not Now, a creative program currently funded by Seattle Children’s Guild Association Teen Cancer Fund. The program is designed to support young cancer patients and introduce them to peers as they deal with their illness.

I love, love, LOVE this video for so many different reasons. It reflects such courage in these young children, and how, even in the darkest of times, they hold their heads up and fight.

The video also puts life in perspective for me. We all doubt and struggle and deal with adversity, but it’s how we cope that makes all the difference.

It also shows just how music can be a positive force in your life. In times of heartache and pain, it can lift you up and motivate you to keep fighting. This also demonstrates why we should listen to positive music. Just as light music inspires, dark music can have the opposite effect.

I’m so inspired and I pray for all these boys and girls. May they always know how much they helped others to feel inspired, simply by their strength and courage. And may God keep them strong now and heal them of their afflictions. May He also bless them so they can each go on to live long and healthy lives, forever inspiring and motivating and strengthening, and receiving the same blessings in return.

Ladies, what do you think of this story? Do you have a special song that helps you through hard times? Which song is it?

1. The movies. For added fun, check to see if there’s an outdoor or drive-in movie theater in your area.
2. Bowling
3. Roller skating/ice skating
4. Miniature golfing
5. Go for a walk on the beach or boardwalk
6. Skiing/sledding
7. Amusement park or county fair
8. Local festivals
9. Laser Tag
10. Sports park (go-karts and batting cages can be so much fun!)
11. Picnic in the park
12. Hiking
13. Sports games. Are you ready for some football (or baseball, basketball or hockey)?
14. Snowball fight with some hot cocoa afterwards!
15. Pool party!
16. Take an arts and crafts class as a group (or another fun low-cost class)
17. Sightseeing
18. The zoo or aquarium (These two places can be tons of fun and they’re not just for small kids either!)
19. Concerts, plays or other live performances
20. Grab a camera and find a place to do a photo shoot. You’ll love the keepsake later! Finish the date off with some ice cream or other dessert.

Has anyone tried any of these places for a double or group date? What were your experiences? Also, do you have any additional activities to add to this list?

*This is Nicole- Also, Don’t feel pressured that you have to start dating! Make sure he is a good, kind, respectful man who loves God just as much as you do! and you can use these ideas to go out with your family or girlfriends too!* Thanks Aysha for such a great article!!

• Prayer. God says that He’ll always be there to comfort you. Ask Him for the strength that you need to work through the disappointment so that you’re better able to accept that you’re just friends.

• Make a mental note to self: You are special! Don’t think for a single second that this means there’s something wrong with you. That’s simply NOT true. There are a ton of reasons why some relationships don’t work out or never happen. Remember, God closes some doors so that He can open others.

When I was your age I wasn’t allowed to date. Even as I entered my twenties, I struggled with dating. Unfortunately, I felt inept and like guys just didn’t notice me. As I became more confident in my greatness as a child of God, I realized that there was NOTHING wrong with me and that God had someone special for me. I discovered that it’s okay that the other guys didn’t like me because they weren’t who God had created for me. All this to say, God has someone JUST FOR YOU and when that time comes, the other relationships just won’t seem to matter!

• Respect your friendship. If the guy that you like likes someone else, don’t try to sabotage that relationship. Remember to treat others the way that you want to be treated. The Bible says this:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).

• Give yourself some space. If it’s too hard to watch the boy that you like dating someone else, it’s okay to distance yourself from him. You shouldn’t try to sabotage the relationship, but you don’t have to subject yourself to additional pain, either. Being a good friend means knowing your limits and taking some time away when you need it. It’s much easier to be a good friend AFTER you’ve healed and regenerated yourself.

• Keep yourself occupied. Try to keep your mind off the situation by engaging in new and exciting activities. It’s easier to move forward when you’re doing other things and interacting with other people regularly. Sitting at home depressed will just make the situation worse.

• Remember that it’s okay to choose to WAIT to date. Dating can sometimes produce unnecessary pressure and premature emotional attachment. You can avoid some emotional pain simply by choosing to wait until you’re older to date. Whatever you choose, whether its to date or to wait, remember that you’re God’s girl and you’re worthy of respect.

I know it isn’t fun when you like someone who likes someone else, but remember that in due season, you’ll meet your future husband. When that happens, what’s going on now will be like a distant memory.

After traveling to Uganda for a summer, one of them came back and told the other two founders about the poverty in Africa and the different government camps that were running the villages. The three came up with an idea to help these families begin new lives: They would teach them how to crochet so they could earn fair wages and rise above poverty.

Since 2008, the company has grown and many lives have been impacted.

Today, over 150 people in Uganda and Peru are working, receiving education, and being mentored toward a brighter future. The products created abroad have been well received here at home and the collaboration of our staff and beneficiaries around the globe has created a sustainable cycle of employment and empowerment (krochetkids.org).

Learn more about Krochet Kids by watching the video:

Krochet Kids offers an assortment of hats in different colors. In addition, they have added different t-shirts, scarfs and a Krochet Kids tote bag to their inventory. Krochet Kids gear is available for purchase online and proceeds go to the families and individuals in need. Buy a hat. Change a life.

I love this cause because it is so inspiring, life-altering and creative. Not only has it reached people in Africa but more and more people are learning about it here in the U.S. Stores like Nordstrom carry the Krochet Kids merchandise and it is bring about a global awareness. I want to be able to change the world like these three young innovators. One of the three founders attended my former school, Vanguard University of Southern California. I am so encouraged when young people are impacting the Kingdom of God and making purposeful changes in society and nationally.

PI girls, what’s your favorite Krochet Kids item and what inspires you to change the world?

My name is Rachel.  I’m fifteen, turning sixteen tomorrow, and I now know how to like my face without makeup, a step that was made possibly largely by Project Inspired here.  Girls, we are more precious than rubies!  Proverbs 31 ladies!!

The answer is, a lot of excitement!

Truth is, it isn’t God’s responsibility to make our lives exciting. He has given us redemption through His Son, power through His Holy Spirit and plenty of opportunities to show His love to a hurt and confused world. If our lives are boring, then that’s our fault, not His.

So where’s all this excitement, then?

• Miracles! – In the Bible, Jesus healed people, raised the dead to life and cast out demons. Jesus also said “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” –John 14:12-14. Let’s get out there and start asking God for some miracles!
• Serve! – Have you ever seen the look on a homeless, hurting or struggling person’s face when someone blesses them, either with a little money for food or even with a listening ear? When someone realizes God has not given up on them, it’s enough to leave you speechless. God has given us love to pour out upon the hurting and broken, so start pouring out the love!
• Pray! If you want to see change happen in your life and the lives of others, then you need to spend time in prayer. Not just once in a while, but every day. There’s a story in Luke 18:1-8 that talks about a widow who pesters a judge about legal protection that she needed. She pesters him every day until he finally gives her what she wants just so she’ll stop bothering him. God says how much more will He do what we ask because He loves us!

There are so many other ways we can make our Christian lives exciting–serving at homeless shelters, performing with God-given talents and even ministering to people at our schools. The important thing to remember is that every way of making Christianity exciting has to do with doing what God wants us to do and the things that touch God’s heart.

How can you make your Christian life more exciting?

These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mark 16:17-18).