Some of us will never have confidence issues and that is totally fine!
But many of us suffer from low self-esteem which impacts how we feel about ourselves and our lives.
It affects our work, our friends, and our relationships. So how can we fix this and help our teens to be confident?
This article is going to help you figure out how to help your teen with confidence and some tips to start on the right foot!
Do you need to improve your self-esteem?
Have you struggled with low self-esteem? You’re not alone!
There is actually a very long list of people who suffer from low self-esteem, ranging from a celebrity to a grandmother!
So I think it is fair to assume that your teen struggles too.
Teenagers have these little feelings of insecurity that pop up from time to time, and they get uncomfortable around people or think that they are not good enough.
So what can you do to fix this?
Here is a list of common self-esteem issues that teenagers face and how to fix them.
Not feeling like we are good enough
This is a common feeling that every teenager has at some point.
This is not a bad feeling, as it gives us a sense of self-worth and confidence that we didn’t have before.
The thing that happens is that you start to compare yourself to other people around you.
As you grow, this feeling will go away but it can stay for a long time.
Hearing “You don’t have a lot of friends” or “You aren’t as smart as the other kids”
A lot of us have heard people saying this to us at some point.
Although there are indeed a lot of kids who are popular and have lots of friends, not all of them have these experiences.
Your teen is feeling self-conscious but doesn’t take this comment personally, because the other kid could be in a very different place in their life than you are.
As an adult, you should probably look at this comment a little differently.
You can either let the other person know that their comment made you feel bad, or you can say something like this:
“I appreciate you noticing that. It really matters to me that I have friends and am well-liked. Thanks!”
Trying to “perfect” ourselves
Everyone does this a little bit. You want to be thinner, skinnier, fitter, brighter, more talented, successful, popular, whatever!
It is natural to want to become better than you are, so what can you do to help your teen with this?
Here are some tips to help you help your teen with self-esteem:
Get them to start to challenge themselves and push themselves, rather than trying to “do better” than they are.
Start to set realistic goals that they can achieve. It is perfectly fine to aim high but make sure they set attainable goals.
When you do manage to achieve a goal, they will feel happy that they did it and will start to feel proud of themselves and the effort that they put in.
When you have achieved these goals, acknowledge their achievements and praise their achievements.
Learning from their own mistakes
Teenagers learn from their mistakes! They can’t help it, they are human, so try to help them learn from their mistakes!
Try to be there to support them and answer their questions, when they need help or support.
Encourage them to admit when they have made a mistake.
They don’t always want to admit their mistakes, but just to encourage them to own up to the situation.
When your teen makes a mistake, don’t just “tolerate” it, try to find ways to help them learn from it and make the next decision more smartly.
Teaching your teen to be self-aware
This is going to sound silly, but we all indeed have a little bit of “self-esteem” that comes out each time we go through puberty.
It is something that is part of the process of growing up, it will pass but we need to remember that we are doing the best we can!
What can you do to help your teen with self-esteem?
So that’s what I have learned so far.
I am sure there are many other things that I have not thought of, but that is part of the fun of learning about your teen and finding out what works for them. Don’t forget to check out these posts:
If you want more information, you can visit the Abundant Life High School website:
Abundant life high school
Abundant Life High School is a good independent school for Christian youth to take the next step in their education.
It is not a school like others. It is not a religious school, but a Christ-Centered school.
It is not a “Christian-based school” but a Christian school that is supported by Christ and his teachings.
The Abundant Life High School looks to encourage and nurture the qualities of the “12-Step Recovery” through Jesus Christ’s life.
We celebrate his work in the world by acknowledging that we need each other to accomplish God’s plan for our lives and to live in that freedom.
