Sometimes it can be hard to give ourselves a pat on the back. Is it because we’re always looking for the next goal to chase? Or is it because we feel we are not deserving of praise? Here’s the bottom line, you ARE deserving of praise. If you made it to school every day this week and gave it 100%, you deserve personal praise. If at the end of the day, you made it a point to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, you deserve personal praise.
Let’s Try This Activity:
1. Think about a time that you have seen an acceptance speech at an awards show or a hall of fame ceremony. What did you notice about the individual giving the speech? Were they comfortable, were they grateful? Were they a lifelong learner? Did they make mistakes during their journey? Search online to find an acceptance speech if you can’t think of one.
2. We are going to challenge you to create your own hall of fame induction speech. Write down what you are proud of about yourself. What is it that earned you a spot into that hall of fame?
3. Write down how you accomplished it, and most importantly, what mistakes did you make along the way. This aspect of self-reflection is crucial in our growth and development. We can recognize our struggles and how we went over or around them. Please keep in mind that these can be small, day to day accomplishments (not hitting the snooze button, getting 8 hours of sleep) or they can be larger scale accomplishments (honour roll, won a race, etc.)
4. For your acceptance speech, write down who you want to thank for helping you get there. Support systems are everything and lifting up others can make you feel proud as well.
5. Now challenge yourself to read it outloud to someone else or yourself in the mirror. You could also have someone read it outloud on your behalf! Hearing the words out loud can make this all the more real. It can reaffirm that you are indeed proud of yourself.
6. Take the time to listen to others’ speeches as well. Hearing from other proud humans can empower you.
Nice work hall-of-famer! How did it feel being up on that podium? Was it hard to pat yourself on the back or was it easy to verbalise your proud moment?! Regardless, WE are proud of you! You took a step in the right direction and officially began designing your blueprint of self-esteem.
