Youth Should Rebel

There's an interesting book that I'm looking into titled DO HARD THINGS: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. As a youth leader I'm confounded by the attitudes of youth who waste their lives as teenagers on superficial, boring pursuits. This book contains a compelling argument that youth aren't doing amazing things because people cripple them with exceedingly low expectations.

Youth should not be limited to doing great things academically and athletically. They should be be allowed to solve real world problems in business and society. Allowing our young people to waste seven years of their lives is criminal. Young people everywhere should rebel (with a godly/humble attitude) and break this limiting, oppressive mindset, and they should start right now.

Where To Start

The same authors have written a follow-up book titled START HERE: Doing Hard Things Right Where You Are which give some practical tips on how to get started. I would guess that they would discuss:

• Being dedicated to reading God's Word
  and getting inspired by what others are doing
• Dreaming and writing down some goals, and tasks (how to attain those goals)
• Changing your environment (where you go)
• Changing your habits (how you do things and what you do)

Adults should be mentoring youth; checking up on them, encouraging them, giving them tips, and listening to what they have to say. Perhaps listening is the most important in the list.

Some Notes On The Book and Video

Some excerpts from the video:

Rethink your teen years
Not a vacation from responsiblity
But as the launching pad of life

Is this all there is [to life]
Is this all you can do?
No, there is a better more fulfilling way to live
It starts with being willing to step outside of your comfort zone and trusting God enough to do hard things

1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you're young but set an example for the b in speech, life, love, faith and in purity.
If you do hard things, and challenge yourself, you will keep growing.
Even if other people look down on us because we're young, God calls us to be exemplary.

Links

• The Rebelution Website
• The DO HARD THINGS book overview
• Get DO HARD THINGS on Amazon
• Get START HERE on Amazon