SelfEsteem

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Self-Esteem

• North Carolina Cooperative Extension

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The Importance ofTaking Care of Yourself

• Your beliefs about yourself will influence your
  effectiveness in nurturing self-esteem in others.
• Much of your success and happiness in life will
  be determined by your level of self-esteem.
• Strong, positive relationships with your spouse
  and children depend on you having a relatively
  high self-esteem.

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The Importance of Taking Care of yourself

• Launch an exercise program
• Get adequate sleep
• Fuel your body with balanced nutrition
• Develop a hobby
• Take a class for the pure enjoyment of learning
  something new
• Learn to relax
• Buy some new clothes
• Change hair styles
• Pamper yourself
• Read good, positive literature
• Take time to play
• Join a club
• Participate in church activities
• etc.

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Children self-esteem

• Your words and actions should convey these
  messages
• I want to be your mother (or father).
• I am interested in you and what happens to you.
• I enjoy being with you.
• You are a unique person with your own strengths
  and weaknesses.
• You do not have to be different for me to accept
  you.
• You and I have a relationship that is important
  to me.

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Show Your ChildrenHow Important They Are

• Be available to your children
• Involve them in your interests and hobbies
• Show interest in their activities

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Your Own Self-beliefs

• I've got to be perfect if I am to be a good
  parent.
• I've got to be the boss. I must be in control and
  in charge all the time. My children are the
  products of my will.
• My children must like me all the time. If they
  don't I will feel depressed and discouraged.

• My personal value does not depend on how perfect
  I am as a parent. We all make mistakes.
• My children are individuals. They make choices
  independent of my will. I can slowly grant more
  and more independence to my children as they grow
  older.
• I enjoy being loved by my children, but I can
  survive without their complete approval. I must
  do what I think is right even though they might
  become upset.

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Quick Questions

• T____ F____ 1. Your beliefs about yourself have
  nothing to do with your ability to nurture
  self-esteem in others.

• T____ F____ 2. A high level of self-esteem will
  probably do more than anything else to make you
  happy.
• T____ F____ 3. Children's self-esteem is
  determined primarily by the interactions with
  their parents.

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Positive Esteem Builders

• Make fresh starts.
• Seek solitude.
• Listen carefully.
• Keep dreaming.
• Welcome challenges.
• Care for your body.
• Expect the best.
• Reach for the top.
• Trust, believe, have faith.
• Keep a light heart.
• Be here now.
• Behold beauty everywhere.

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Action Plan for Strengthening Self-Esteem

• Find a model
• Use positive self-talk
• Visualize the new you.

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Quick QuestionsTrue or False?

• 1. Self-esteem is so ingrained at an early age
  that it is impossible to change how you feel
  about yourself.
• 2. Difficult situations and the hardships of life
  work to tear down your positive self-esteem.
• 3. Mentally visualizing changes in yourself can
  help bring those changes about.