Lesson 2: Build Self-Esteem

What is Self-Efficacy?

Self-efficacy is the belief that you are capable of performing a task or managing a situation.

A child with high self-efficacy believes they have the skills to help them steer through life and reach their goals. Perhaps most importantly, self-efficacy is about learning how to persevere when one does not succeed.

Higher self-efficacy is linked to:

• better ability to think productively by applying positive thinking skills when facing a challenge

• higher motivation

• stronger effort put into an activity or task

• greater resilience

• lower vulnerability to stress and depression

Lower self-efficacy is linked to:

• tendency to shy away from difficult tasks

• lower aspirations and poor commitment to goals

• pessimistic attitude towards obstacles

• greater vulnerability to stress and depression

What is Self-Esteem?

Self-esteem is the regard or respect that a person has for oneself. A person with positive feelings regarding the self is said to have high self-esteem. However, self-esteem can refer to very specific areas as well as a general feeling about the self. For instance, a person may have low self-esteem regarding physical attractiveness and high self-esteem about ability to do a job well.

Positive self-esteem for teens is important as it allows them to try new things, take healthy risks and solve problems. In turn, their learning and development will be productive and will set them up for a healthy and positive future. A young person with healthy self-esteem is more likely to display positive behavioural characteristics, such as:

• acting independent and mature

• taking pride in their accomplishment/achievements

• accepting frustration and dealing with it responsibly

• trying new things and challenges

• helping others when possible

When someone has low self-esteem they tend to avoid situations where they think there’s risk of failure, embarrassment or making mistakes. These can involve school work, making friends, and trying new activities, which are all important parts of a healthy teenage life.

If the low self-esteem is not identified and treated, then it can lead to problems such as:

• relationship troubles or difficulty making friends

• negative moods such as feeling sad, anxious, ashamed or angry

• low motivation, poor body image

• drinking alcohol and/or drugs to feel better

• can lead to earlier sexual activity

What can cause Low Self-Esteem?

How a person feels about themselves is a result of their experiences and how they deal with situations. The most common causes of low self-esteem in teenagers are:

• unsupportive parents, caregivers or others that play an influential role in their life

• friends who are bad influences

• stressful life events such as divorce or moving houses

• trauma or abuse

• poor performance at school or unrealistic goals

• mental illness such as depression and anxiety

• bullying or loneliness

A child with low self-esteem will more than likely be having negative thoughts about their worth and value as a person. General signs that of low self-esteem include:

• avoiding new things and not taking up opportunities

• blaming others for their own mistakes

• not being able to deal with normal levels of frustration

• negative self talk and comparisons to others

• fear of failure or embarassment

• low levels of motivation and interest

• difficulty making friends

These activities are to help support positive self-esteem, but it’s also important to remember that teenage self-esteem develops and changes quite frequently overtime.

Lesson Part 2: Kindness to YOURSELF Challenge

Materials

Elsa Support 5 Day Challenge Template

How?

Over a 5 day challenge students will reflect on the following challenges on building self-esteem and kindness for oneself. Provide a template to each student and every other day work on the day challenges.

Outline of the 5 Day Challenges

Day 1

Think about all the things you do today that you deserve a compliment for, draw or write about it.

Day 2

Think about any mistakes you made today. Learn from them and move on. It is okay you can forgive yourself. Write or draw about a mistake you made and what did you learn from it?

Day 3

Make a "I am special jar" add everything you think of that makes you special. Think about all the things that make you special. Write a list and keep adding to it!

Day 4

Think about what went well today. Write about or draw about what went well today.

Day 5

Affirmations are simple and positive messages. The word 'affirm' means to state something that is true. The more you say affirmations to yourself the more you begin to believe them.

Lesson Part 3: Mindful Journalling

Journalling is a simple practice that can do a lot for those struggling with mental illness or striving towards more positive mental health.

Journalling requires the application of the analytical, rational left side of the brain; while your left hemisphere is occupied, your right hemisphere (the creative, touchy-feely side) is given the freedom to wander and play (Grothaus, 2015)! Allowing your creativity to flourish and expand can be cathartic and make a big difference in your daily well-being.

Overall, journaling/expressive writing has been found to:

• Boost your mood/affect;

• Enhance your sense of well-being;

• Reduce symptoms of depression before an important event (like an exam);

• Reduce intrusion and avoidance symptoms post-trauma;

• Improve your working memory.

This activity is an introduction in a guided way to help students start to practice journalling.

Materials

Template on journalling with explanation for each part.

How?

Provide each student with a mindful moments journalling package. Provide some class time in addition to our lesson to allow the students to journal.

Extension?

Move to providing students with their own journal and continue the practice of journalling in school. Moving away from the template pages.