Slides

Feel more capable of change in just 5 minutes

We'll help you discover your ability to change ✨

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Choose "I agree" below if you agree to the terms of service and warrant that you are 13 years of age or older.

Now we’ll ask just a few questions about how you’re feeling right now.

Please share how much you agree or disagree with the following statements based on how you're feeling right now, in this moment.

I feel that the future is hopeless and that things cannot improve.

My future seems dark to me.

Things just won’t work out the way I want them to.

There’s no use in really trying to get something I want, because I probably won’t get it.

At this moment, how ready are you to work towards improving your mental health?

0 Not at all ready

10 Completely ready

Thank you for answering these questions 💞

Now let's get started...

Have you ever felt stuck being one kind of person?

...or like change is impossible?

You're not alone — many people feel this way. Luckily, science shows us this isn't true.

Our brains are designed to change over time.

You're right! Science shows us this isn't true.

Our brains are designed to change over time.

The human brain is made of 100 billion building blocks, called neurons.

They constantly talk to each other and form new connections.

Every thought and feeling we have creates connections between neurons in our brain.

These thoughts are the words we say to ourselves.

Things like, "I definitely failed that math test", or "what if no one likes me?" 💭

And these feelings are emotions in our bodies.

Things like fear or sadness 🫣😞

So, when somebody thinks, “I’ll never make real friends,” they may feel sadness...

...which forms a connection in their brain.

These connections lead to our actions in the real world.

Someone who is sad might stay in bed instead of going to school.

But there's good news...

By acting differently, you can actually build new connections between neurons in your brain.

When neurons form new connections, your personality can change.

You can have different thoughts and feelings. And you can learn to cope with life’s challenges in better ways.

The connections we build can help shape how we act and cope with stress.

Building positive connections helps us cope better.

Sound impossible?

Choose a skill you are good at or proud of:

Now think way back to when you were 6 years old.

From age 6 until today...

How much time and effort have you put into getting better at this skill?

1 = None at all
10 = A ton

97% of teens say that they put in at least a little time and effort to build their skill, no matter what that skill was.

Brain science backs this up. With time and effort, you can grow in all sorts of ways – even when it feels impossible.

People who feel scared or worried can become more relaxed 😌

People who feel sad or down can feel more hopeful ⭐️

People who feel lonely or shy can make new friends 👯

Nice work!

You're learning a lot about your power to change, let's keep it going...

Of course, building new connections isn’t always easy. Change takes patience and effort.

We need to be kind to ourselves if things don’t change right away 💞

By practicing new responses to our thoughts and feelings, we can change our brains and behaviors over time.

It's like our brain connections are written in pencil—it’s possible to change them.

That’s why people can act and feel differently over time.

Here’s one person's example...

"Last school year was hard. I felt really down and not like myself. I stopped doing all the things that made me me. I just wanted to stay in bed and do nothing, even though it made me feel worse."

What do you think this person may have been thinking? 💭

Here are some examples of difficult thoughts we've heard from others.

We agree, that seems like something they may have been thinking 😔

But none of those thoughts were actually true...

They were still capable of change, no matter what their brain was telling them.

Here’s what actually happened:

"I tried something new. Every day I did at least one fun thing, like going to soccer practice or talking to a friend. I didn't feel like it at first, but I kept doing it. It wasn't right away, but over time, I started feeling more like myself."

Change is possible, even when it feels like it's not.

Keep up the great work!

Now we'll practice what you've learned...

You see, science also shows that helping others can help you feel better. 💗

Next, we'll show some more examples from teens. Will you help them take action toward change?

Here's another person's story:

"My first day freshman year, I noticed a friend from last year in the hall. I didn't know too many people yet, so I smiled and waved at him. He didn't even say hi back, he just kept walking. My confidence took a huge hit, like I'd never feel comfortable making friends."

And they aren't alone!

98% of teenagers feel lonely, depressed, or overwhelmed at least once while starting high school.

But 86% feel less lonely and depressed by later that same year.

So, what would you say to this person to help them know this can change?

Remember what you've learned about personality and the brain 🧠✨

"It's really hard feeling this way, and...

Thanks for helping others!

You're getting the hang of this, almost there.

But what about stuff you can’t control?

Just because you can change yourself doesn’t mean you're responsible for changing things around you.

Some things, like how other people treat you, are out of your control.

By focusing on changes you can control, you'll take steps you care about while being kinder to yourself.

Let’s make a plan with what you can control.

Let’s pick a goal you care about and find one small way you can take action to help yourself get there.

Now pick a smaller goal within this bigger goal that will help you change:

And making specific time for it can help make it happen.

Each day, I’ll try to make time to {{field:9172f7dc-c3f6-4903-b15f-264a14934c3b}}:

Your action plan is coming together! You're already making progress toward change.

Remember, your brain is built to learn and change.

Here's your action plan!

I'd like to {{field:2fe4a42f-9da0-42d6-b268-7c35f664ffbb}}.

Each day, I am going to {{field:9172f7dc-c3f6-4903-b15f-264a14934c3b}} {{field:18d4216a-c231-4539-9d19-ea4600706bf4}}.

Take a screenshot to save for later 📸

🎉 With practice, this will help form positive connections between the neurons in your brain! You'll grow closer and closer to your goal over time.

Now pick a smaller goal within this bigger goal that will help you change:

And making specific time for it can help make it happen.

Each day, I’ll try to make time to {{field:88baf270-46e8-4ddc-a4ea-d2bcbfed8594}}:

Your action plan is coming together! You're already making progress toward change.

Remember, your brain is built to learn and change.

Here's your action plan!

I'd like to {{field:2fe4a42f-9da0-42d6-b268-7c35f664ffbb}}.

Each day, I am going to {{field:88baf270-46e8-4ddc-a4ea-d2bcbfed8594}} {{field:de1cc53e-863d-4e23-a1d4-a3f9cb14e591}}.

Take a screenshot to save for later 📸

🎉 With practice, this will help form positive connections between the neurons in your brain! You'll grow closer and closer to your goal over time.

Now pick a smaller goal within this bigger goal that will help you change:

And making specific time for it can help make it happen.

Each day, I’ll try to make time to {{field:fa0a9985-f6c9-4b03-a971-6dcdb50316f2}}:

Your action plan is coming together! You're already making progress toward change.

Remember, your brain is built to learn and change.

Here's your action plan!

I'd like to {{field:2fe4a42f-9da0-42d6-b268-7c35f664ffbb}}.

Each day, I am going to {{field:fa0a9985-f6c9-4b03-a971-6dcdb50316f2}} {{field:a024b25a-0efb-4884-9bee-f8cd339f5c63}}.

Take a screenshot to save for later 📸
🎉 With practice, this will help form positive connections between the neurons in your brain! You'll grow closer and closer to your goal over time.

Now pick a smaller goal within this bigger goal that will help you change:

And making specific time for it can help make it happen.

Each day, I’ll try to make time to {{field:3be51e82-5113-483f-9cf6-4edecd838e53}}:

Your action plan is coming together! You're already making progress toward change.

Remember, your brain is built to learn and change.

Here's your action plan!

I'd like to {{field:2fe4a42f-9da0-42d6-b268-7c35f664ffbb}}.

Each day, I am going to {{field:3be51e82-5113-483f-9cf6-4edecd838e53}} {{field:ba3d8fe1-1219-4ff1-b82d-8ad45b91b21f}}.

Take a screenshot to save for later 📸

🎉 With practice, this will help form positive connections between the neurons in your brain! You'll grow closer and closer to your goal over time.

Now pick a smaller goal within this bigger goal that will help you change:

And making specific time for it can help make it happen.

Each day, I’ll try to make time to {{field:812969d1-2d40-49ff-86df-08024de9133b}}:

Your action plan is coming together! You're already making progress toward change.

Remember, your brain is built to learn and change.

Here's your action plan!

I'd like to {{field:2fe4a42f-9da0-42d6-b268-7c35f664ffbb}}.

Each day, I am going to {{field:812969d1-2d40-49ff-86df-08024de9133b}} {{field:1a800741-097f-4325-8df9-c29a09b460e5}}.

Take a screenshot to save for later 📸

🎉 With practice, this will help form positive connections between the neurons in your brain! You'll grow closer and closer to your goal over time.

Now pick a smaller goal within this bigger goal that will help you change:

And making specific time for it can help make it happen.

Each day, I’ll try to make time to {{field:9172f7dc-c3f6-4903-b15f-264a14934c3b}}:

Your action plan is coming together! You're already making progress toward change.

Remember, your brain is built to learn and change.

Here's your action plan!

I'd like to {{field:2fe4a42f-9da0-42d6-b268-7c35f664ffbb}}.

Each day, I am going to {{field:34c1bb2f-0696-4bce-a0f8-dbac04767f71}} {{field:cddc0452-9a2a-4a97-9e47-a0da971b5cce}}.

Take a screenshot to save for later 📸

🎉 With practice, this will help form positive connections between the neurons in your brain! You'll grow closer and closer to your goal over time.

Thank you for your time, and for taking care of yourself today!

You matter 💞

Thank you! Almost done, let's finish strong!

Now we’ll ask just a few questions about how you’re feeling right now.

Please share how much you agree or disagree with the following statements based on how you're feeling right now, in this moment.

I feel that the future is hopeless and that things cannot improve.

My future seems dark to me.

Things just won’t work out the way I want them to.

There’s no use in really trying to get something I want, because I probably won’t get it.

At this moment, how ready are you to work towards improving your mental health?

0 Not at all ready

10 Completely ready