Believe in Yourself

"It is a blessed thing that in every age someone has had the individuality enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions."
Robert G. Ingersoll Orator, Attorney, Politician  (1833-1899);

Being Different

It's okay to be different.  It's more interesting.

Presenting

Your Life

"You are the STAR of your life story. Each day you contribute to the sctipt." -Vicki Phillips

Attitude

Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitudes toward life.  The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we respond to it.

-Charles R. Swindoll

If you think you can, you can.  And if you think you can't you're right.
-Mary Kay Ash

Positive Attitude

A positive attitude is not going to save you. What it's going to do is, everyday, between now and the day you die, whether that's a short time from now or a long time from now, that every day, you're going to actually live.
Elizabeth Edwards

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/positive_attitude.html#gR4ysP5JwO2XMcdx.99

Smile

Where is your focus?  What thoughts are you filling your life with?  You deserve happiness.

Courage

Your perspective of the situation is everything.  Life is not about only survival, it is about growth and joy.

Our Own Walls

What are some of the walls that we build ourselves?
How do we create our own limitations?
What kinds of things do we tell ourselves when we are faced with a new challenge/ relationship?
Where can you find help to start tearing down the wall?

Don't be afraid to reach out.  The reward is so much sweeter than the fear or limitations you are feeling.

Life Inventory

Classroom/ Group Activity
In this activity have the student generate as many answers to each questions as possible.  Tell them not to think about any of the questions too deeply.

1. When do I feel fully alive? (events, activities, things, etc.  that really make you feel that it is great to be alive and be you)
2. What do I do well? (what special gifts, attributes, talents, skills do I have to contribute to the lives of others? what skills have I mastered?)
3. What wishes should I be turning into plans?  Any dreams I have discarded that I should start dreaming again?
4. What should I start learning or doing now?
5. What should I stop doing now?

If the class is comfortable doing so have them share some of their responses.   
 Discussion:
What question was the easiest for them to answer? Why?
Was their an area of your life that you hadn't thought about for a long time that a question made you remember? 
What resources do they have to move forward in these areas?
Have them write a short term goal regarding their answer to questions four and five.

Negative Thoughts

A Self-Assessment

Thoughts That Weigh Me Down

Rate all those that fit what you have thought.
1- one to two times a year
2- Every couple of months
3- Every month
4- every couple of weeks

__It doesn't pay to get close to anyone, because that person will get hurt too.
__I don't care about anything anymore.
__I'll scare all of my friends away if I don't stop crying or thinking about this all of the time.
__It's not right for me to have fun now.
__I can't let anyone know how I really reacted when it happened.  I'm ashamed.  I'll be made fun of or called stupid.
__I can't do anything right anymore.
__I feel like I'm going crazy.
__I have to take care of myself.  No one else will.
__I should be over this by now.  There is something wrong with me.
__It's best I keep it all to myself.
__There's no point in trying anymore.
__There is nothing else I can do.

Add up your ratings.  How high was your score?  How do you feel about it?  Set a goal to lower that number by increasing the positive thoughts about yourself and your life.