6 Signs Your Teen Knows Their Value and Self-Worth
1. They have high self-esteem
A sure sign that a young person values themselves is positive self-esteem. You will know that your child’s self-esteem is high from the language they use to describe themselves and their achievements. Instead of always talking about how they can’t do something, or that they are rubbish at certain things, they will talk positively about their actions.
You will also know their self-esteem is high if they are kind to people. Unkindness in teens usually comes from a place of self-loathing; they put others down to feel good about themselves.
Your teen will also understand that confidence is a muscle that needs to be exercised and will be willing to try new things and step out of their comfort zone even if it feels scary.
Your teen will make good choices and look after themselves by exercising and trying to eat nutritious foods as well as treats, when they feel positive about themselves.
2. They see themselves as a peer
Comparison is indeed the thief of joy and is a very normal and human trait that we all experience at some level. But when your teen knows their value and self-worth they will not feel comparison and jealousy as keenly. They will see themselves as a peer to others rather than competition all the time. You will know your son/daughter values themselves because they wont really get jealous of others because they are happy with themselves and their own decisions, choices and achievements. They are happy for their friends and family members when good things come their way.
3. They are starting to understand the difference they make
Your teen knows their worth when they are starting to realise that they can and do make a difference. This does not have to be in a seemingly grand way! This is simply about them knowing that they matter to people and that the decisions they make impact others. Once a young person starts to understand this, they start to find their place in the world.
4. They know what matters to them
When a young person starts to see that having clear values is key to living a contented and fulfilled life, they know their self-worth. They can clearly see what is important to them and start to make time and space for them. For example, if they value connection they will make plans to hang out with their friends. If they value family they will always make the effort to attend family events and look forward to them. In this way they are starting to live their lives according to their values, creating healthy boundaries to facilitate that.
5. They have found their spark
If you have been following me for a while you will know that I am on a mission for all young people to ‘find their spark’, that one thing that sets their soul on fire. It could be a sport or hobby such as playing football or ballet dancing. It could be art or a passion for campaigning against climate change. When a young person finds their ‘spark’ everything else falls into place, and it has a profound affect on their self-worth because they are part of something bigger and are committed to life-long learning and progress.
6. They believe they are enough
You know that your child does not have to change who they are to be ‘better’. They have to embrace their whole selves and know that they are enough. As adults we know that this is not easy, it is a lifelong commitment to self-development and understanding how our thoughts influence our decisions and actions. But when your teen is onboard with this process, they start to believe that they are good enough, and do not attach their worth to things such as exam results and the number of likes on a social media post.
If you are interested in finding out more strategies and tips on how to grow your teenager’s self-confidence then I am hosting a webinar this Thursday 17th September at 8pm. You can book your place here.