Teen Esteem

"Important Facts You Should Know About Yourself: " I am God's greatest miracle. Since the beginning of time, never has there been another with my mind, my heart, my eyes, my ears, my hands, my hair, my mouth. None that came before, none that live today, and none that comes tomorrow can walk and talk and move and think exactly like me. All are my brothers and sisters, yet I am different from each. I am a unique creature. I am God's s greatest miracle. No beast, no plant, no wind, no rain, no rock, no lake had the same beginning as I, for I was conceived in love and brought forth with a purpose from Og Mandino's Greatest Miracle of the World.

One of the dangers of adolescence is the possibility of falling into a hard-to-overcome sense of inferiority. Every teenager struggles with feelings of inferiority because of concerns about physical attractiveness, intelligence, money and the changes that accompany puberty. Adolescent feelings of self-esteem or personal worth are also strongly influenced by how others, especially parents and peers - think about you. The key to overcoming the ups and downs of such feelings is to be proud of oneself.

If you are to live satisfying lives, you need to feel valuable and that the world is a better place because you are here. Stop worrying about what others think because it could make a person shallow and self-centered. It is important to remember that you are beautiful, unique and no other person was created exactly like you, even if positive feedback is not received from others.

Eight Reminders about Self-Esteem
A person's self-worth never changes. Every human being is created with natural, God-given dignity and value. A strong sense of your inherent worth can help when others don't affirm or value you as you would like. This is especially relevant in your ability to resist peer pressure, from those who want you to behave irresponsibly (such as encouraging illicit sexual behavior or the use of alcohol and drugs). You must have both strong ideals and a good sense of self-worth to be able to withstand the rejection of teasing peers when you decide not to participate.

Teens are not alone.
You need to observe others to realize that everyone has times when one feels shy, quiet, angry, mean, silly, or distant and aloof. People often act this way when they are feeling insecure. Everyone experiences such times.

Don't compare yourself to others.
This is at the root of any sense of inferiority. It is folly because people tend to compare their greatest weakness to another person's outward appearance. There will always be people who are better or worst than you. If you accept who you are, you don't have to compare yourself to others. Instead of comparing, make the most of what you have by concentrating on your strengths. Accentuate the skills that you have, and work to develop new ones based on what you admire in others. If you respect yourself, others will, too.

Establish genuine friendships.
Instead of comparing yourself to others, care for others. The best way to have good friends is to be a good friend, first, by doing things for others and by expecting nothing in return.

Be your own person.
This requires knowing your values and being faithful to them. It helps to know what you want and have a plan for achieving it. Keep a journal for your goals, ideals, priorities and values. Otherwise, you will be tossed around by every distraction that comes along.

Pay attention to prayer and spiritual growth.
Study what really matters in life. Spiritual needs must be taken cared of in order for the whole person to remain healthy. Remember that adults and teens, men and women alike are spiritual as well as physical beings.

Teen Creed
Don't let your parent's down. They brought you up. Be humble enough to obey, you may give orders someday. Choose companions with care, You become what they are. Guard your thoughts, what you think, You are. Choose only a date who would make a good mate. Be master of your habits, or they will master you. Don' t be a show off when you drive, drive with safety and arrive. Don't let the crowd pressure you, Stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

Stay in touch and communicate with parents.
Parents are constant, faithful friends who are interested in the well-being and happiness of their children. They have a lot wisdom and love and can be the strongest support in times of difficulty. Communicate your problems to them, seek their advice, and pray for them.

Face your problems. Ignoring problems does not make them go away. Instead, it tends to lower one's feelings of self-esteem. When you train yourself to avoid procrastination and to face problems head on, you will find that it gets easier to meet challenges in the future.

Source: Pro-Life Philippines Youth for Life Love and Family by Mercedes Arzu Wilson