What are some activities that help raise self-esteem? To raise self esteem in children or teenagers, focus on their spiritual life and self expression. For the last couple of years that there has been an...
For the last couple of years that there has been an approach, especially with children, to raise their self-esteem where I basically explain that you can do anything and be anything if you just have positive intentions. I don't really believe that creates self-esteem, though. If you go all the way down to the deepest layer, true self-esteem comes from recognizing that you truly are perfect and complete. This kind of gets more into a spiritual aspect. True self-esteem isn't possible if you don't consider the spiritual component of it. If you're just looking at it from the mental level and the ego level, your self-esteem will be dependent upon what you accomplish. When you tell a child he can do anything, it means he should feel good about himself. One thing I would recommend would be meditation. You need to have some kind of a spiritual life, because it is designed to put you in contact with that source where you come from. Make a regular practice of putting your focus inside. I would tell you to focus on your heart and to connect with that place inside. It is really always at peace and always knows that it's complete. It's whole.
After that, there are activities that you can do that will facilitate you getting in touch with that phase. Sitting quietly in meditation and paying attention to your breath is a very powerful tool. That requires a certain level of mental focus and discipline. A lot of people haven't cultivated it - especially children. That's why I would say that that are specifically designed to help people access those inner qualities and access that inner space work great. By doing the work, through a mental or a cognitive process, you get to explore different ideas of how you can make a difference in the world.
Giving teens an opportunity for self expression in appropriate ways is very important. Listening is very important as well. We have so much to say to children. A very powerful tool for healing is giving another person a gift of knowing that they were heard and understood. I think listening is the key. A part of listening is also allowing self-expression by facilitating it.
