Self Esteem: The Story

1. Self Esteem:The Story Dianne Volpe

2. Self-Esteem-The Story: Once upon a time…this riddle was humbly asked… • You can’t touch it… • but it affects how you feel. • You can’t see it… • but it is there looking right back at you, when you look in the mirror. • You can’t hear it… • but it’s there every time you speak of yourself whether it be out loud or in your mind. • So exactly what is this self-esteem thing?

3. Self-Esteem:

4. So why is this Self-esteem so important? • Self-esteem is essential for each and everyone of us. • Especially for kids, they need to have a healthy self-esteem during their developmental and educational years. Good self-esteem is important because it helps each and everyone of us to hold our heads up and feel proud of ourselves. It’s the vital ingredient that gives us the courage to try new things as it empowers us to believe in ourselves. It allows us to respect ourselves even when we make mistakes.

5. The Circles of Good Self-esteem.

6. So just where does this self-esteem thing come from? • Self-esteem develops and evolves throughout your entire life; as you mature you form images of yourself through all experiences. The experiences during the beginning developmental years play a vital role in the shaping your self-esteem; this also includes an array of life-long components that fit in place like puzzle pieces…some perfectly and some not so perfect. So make wise choices because it is what makes YOU. • How you were/are treated by the members of your family, friends, teachers, coaches, religious authorities, neighbors…all contribute to the delicate designing of your self-esteem. So when you have a choice…choose them carefully.

7. Healthy Self-Esteem Childhood experiences that lead to healthy self-esteem include: getting attention/appropriate touch being listened to being spoken to respectfully positive praise experiencing success in sports or school having trustworthy friends Low Self-Esteem Childhood experiences that lead to low self-esteem include: being yelled at, beaten being criticized being ignored, ridiculed or teased being expected to be "perfect" most of the time experiencing failures in sports or school People with low self-esteem have an unrealistic view where they correlate failed experiences like: losing a game, getting a poor grade, being dumped by a boy/girl-friend etc.) as if they the person is a failure (failure of the whole-self.. The Highs and Lows: Self-esteem is largely developed during childhood.

8. So exactly how do you acquire this self-esteem?

9. When you were born you didn’t see yourself in a good or a bad way. So just what is it that plants the seed of self-esteem? • Who are these people in the beginning of your life and throughout who assist in the development of your self-esteem? • Family • Neighbors • Friends • Teachers • Classmates • Coaches • Teammates • Many others…

10. Self-esteem a little on the low side: so what’s the story? So how do you recognize low self-esteem? You may know someone- whether it be a child or an adult who doesn’t think highly of themselves. Someone who puts themselves down, feels bad all the time, makes negative comments about themselves and life, thinks they are not good enough: maybe that someone is you. So what do you do to help get out of that darkened state and begin to elevate your self-esteem or help someone else?

11. Here is the story on boosting your self-esteem! • Make a list of all the things you are good at. • List everything from making people laugh, to drawing, helping others, playing sports, singing, being a friend, etc. • Give yourself/others three compliments every day. • Be specific about exactly what it is that is good about you. • Do the same in complimenting others. • Remember “it is what it is” some things cannot be changed, so just learn to accept them. • Accept your body, it is the only one you got. Fall in love with you, your skin color, hair, body shape, how you think, your talents, etc.

12. Self-esteem: Happily Ever After • Remember when you hear negative comments in your head, tell yourself to stop! Main Ingredients for a Healthy Everlasting Self-esteem. • By Focusing on the good things you do and all your positive qualities you learn to accept and love yourself for you. • Recognize when you need improvement, everybody does, and learn from it. The End For further information go to: www.selfesteemawareness.com

13. Art used in this presentation:by Dianne Volpe Visual Artist • Sculpture: Wood/metal, Avalon The Summer of ‘75 • Painting: Oil on board, Self Portrait Tyme Management