Monday, January 14, 2013

Teen Age Girl's Self-Esteem - What Causes Its Nosedive?

By Mary L. Jeremiah


Adolescence can be a turbulent time for young ladies and building self esteem in teenage girls can seem like a daunting task. However, there are several things that one can do to help young women see themselves in a better light. Here are 10 helpful suggestions for building self esteem in teenage girls.Let them know that they do not have to compete with super models. If you watch television you would think that everyone is thin, pretty, and full of poise. In reality, the world is made of people with many imperfections. This is a good subject to discuss with your teen at any time.

Whatever the cause, and what ever the situation you find your self in, you can turn your self-esteem around. Just like any muscle in the body, the right coaching plan will strengthen your self love, esteem and respect in no time.My top 7 tips to Developing solid self esteem are,Make a note of all the negative messages you have about yourself, your body, your worth, potential and limitations - and determine where they came from. Keep in mind that some messages may have been simply absorbed on an unconscious level i.e. we may have picked up self esteem patterns from our mothers or other female in the home.Now go burn that list and never look back.Create a new list - full of all your best traits, experiences, abilities, and any compliments you've received.

Really love yourself!Read this list every day.Create a list of your top goals and take baby steps every day. Think about goals relating to your career, finances, hobbies, spiritual development.Choose to focus on the positive aspects of your self and others every day, and don't take their negativity personally. Your new positive outlook may unnerve those stuck in the dumps; so stay focused on your positive feelings and don't get attached to someone else's trash.Put yourself first!

Yes you read that right.Women are often programmed to be the support person - whether it's to their partner, children or boss; or all the above.Drop the 'martyr' label, and put your happiness and needs first. Be body aware by feeding your body healthy food and taking care of it's needs. Choose to focus on the benefits of healthy eating rather than the pain and punishment associated with yo-yo dieting.Be emotionally aware by doing things that are fun and fulfilling for you. Don't agree to do something you're not 100% happy with, or cancel your plans to accommodate others. Compromise in a relationship is good, but not at the expense of your happiness and not if it's a familiar habit of giving in.And for goodness sake - spoil yourself sometimes! You deserve it.

Self-esteem and self-image make a huge difference in the level of success you can have not only in your business, but it will affect relationships and even health. There have actually been studies that show that low self-esteem lowers your health, as for one thing, it impacts your susceptibility to stress and ineffective self-care.If we try to go after love by taking care of everyone else but ourselves, we ultimately will not even be as effective in caring for those we love. We as women are also setting an example for our daughters. I have a 17 year-old daughter, and I have seen how the impact of media and peer pressure can cause wear and tear on the psych.

As parents, we are so busy working 40-50 hours a week sometimes more that we don't always see the signs. Low self esteem among teenagers is huge and very troubling. Here's a few statistics that alarmed me extremely.Girls with low self esteem are more likely to have sex at a young age. 50% of girls interviewed said they had sex by the time in they were in 9th grade some even earlier. The good stat is that 75% of girls of aged 9 say they like the way they look. That number drastically goes down to 56% by the age of 12 and 13. BY the age of nine, 50% of girls say they have been on a diet or are on a diet. Do you know that 7 million girls and women have an eating disorder and that 20% of women are bulimic in America?

I see these challenges in my peers all the time. So, what is a major source of this low self-esteem? It's actually negative self-talk. That's right, we have found the "enemy" and that enemy is the "Mental Me". It is the voice in our head that is critical and always comparing and judging.It is also the voice that may have come from external "mean girls" that we encountered early in life. I managed to avoid a lot of external mean girl voices, as I grew up in an environment that cultivated my aggressive side, so most girls did not mess with me. However, I was my worse critic.

It is very important for you to work together with your daughter's teachers and mentors to help her become proud of her uniqueness, personality and strengths. If she receives mixed messages or regular discouraging criticism, it may result in confusion or an identity crisis.Secondly, support your daughter to master self-control and problem solving skills. It is critical that she learns the art of taking responsibility for the decisions she makes. She must be supported to be creative, empathic and courageous as she becomes independent and accountable for the choices she makes.

It can be helpful to replay situations with her and ask: "What might have happened if you had made a different decision?" and "If a situation like this happens again, how are you going to handle it?" Thirdly, encourage your daughter to be generous to others. This could be by being trustworthy, or by offering her time, ideas or friendship. When girls learn to be generous they start to realise that they can influence others positively. It helps them become more mindful of others and increasingly self-confident as people thank them for their generosity and kindness.When teenage girls are supported to cultivate an internal appreciation for themselves and others, they begin to feel motivated and confident. That is why a positive and strong identity, good problem solving skills and an ability to be generous promote girls' sense of gratitude and purpose.




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