How to Help Your Teen or Young Adult Make Empowered Choices About Their Future

As parents, we all want our teens and young adults to make confident, healthy decisions — about school, friends, college, career, and life. But what many parents don’t realize is that **big, life-changing choices are built on a foundation of small, everyday ones.**

The way your teen decides what to wear, how to spend their time, or whether to reach out for help — these moments are the *training ground* for the future. When they learn to make small, empowered choices rooted in curiosity and self-awareness, they build the confidence to make bigger ones later on.

That’s what empowerment looks like in action — and it’s one of the central themes we teach in our Life Coaching for Teens and Life Coaching for Young Adults 

Why Small Decisions Matter

When young people face big questions — *What should I do after high school? Should I go to college? What career should I pursue?* — it’s easy for them to freeze. The pressure to “get it right” can lead to indecision, anxiety, or apathy.

But when they learn that life isn’t about one perfect choice — it’s about a series of small, intentional steps — they start to breathe again. They begin to see their decisions as opportunities to grow instead of chances to fail.

At Extraordinary Purpose, we help them break down the process of decision-making into three empowering stages:

1. Awareness – Understanding what matters most to them (values, passions, goals).
2. Exploration – Gathering information and trying small steps to learn what fits.
3. Action – Making choices that align with who they are becoming.

Each stage builds confidence — and confidence builds clarity.

What Parents Can Do This Week

Empowered decision-making doesn’t happen overnight. It happens through conversations, patience, and small nudges in the right direction. Here are a few ways you can help your teen or young adult grow this week:

1. Shift from answers to questions.
Instead of “You should…” try “What’s one thing you could do today to learn more about that?”
Curiosity over pressure opens the door to confidence.

2. Focus on information, not perfection.
Encourage them to gather information before deciding — shadow someone in a field they’re interested in, talk to a mentor, or listen to a career-focused podcast episode. (Check out our [**Extraordinary Purpose Podcast**](https://www.myextraordinarypurpose.com/podcast) for inspiration.)

3. Celebrate small wins.
Each time they make a thoughtful decision — big or small — take a moment to recognize it.
It’s these moments that build identity and self-trust.

4. Model empowered choices.
Let them see you make intentional choices too — even the imperfect ones. Teens learn more from watching your process than from hearing your advice.

The Journey Toward Clarity and Confidence

When young adults realize they have the tools to make their own decisions — and the support to back them up — their entire outlook changes. They move from stuck to curious, from uncertain to hopeful, and from lost to purpose-driven.

That’s the transformation we witness every day through our Extraordinary Purpose Coaching Program. Parents often tell us, *“I can finally breathe again. My child is thinking differently, taking action, and finding direction.”*

It all starts with small choices — and the willingness to grow from them.

Take the Next Step

If your teen or young adult is feeling unsure about what’s next — whether it’s choosing a college, exploring a career, or figuring out who they want to become — you don’t have to figure it out alone.

We’d love to help.

Schedule a free Discovery Call: Click here

to learn how coaching can support your family’s journey.

And don’t forget to explore more of our resources:

* Listen to The Extraordinary Purpose Podcast: Click here 
* Read more insights on our Blog: Read our blog here  

Final Thoughts

Remember — your teen or young adult doesn’t need to have all the answers right now.
They just need to keep showing up, making small, empowered choices, and learning from each one.

And when they do, you’ll see it: