Make the Most of Your Life
Chapter 1
Creative Living Skills
Objectives
• Describe characteristics of
personality
• Distinguish between self concept
and self esteem
• Suggest strategies for boosting self
esteem
• Explain the connection between
competence and confidence
• Identify the benefits of a positive
attitude
Getting to Know Yourself
• Personality – the combination of
characteristics that makes you
different from every other person.
– Emotional
– Social
– Intellectual
Become apparent to others through our
behavior
Personality
• Combination of feelings, character
traits, attitudes and habits you
display to others
– Makes you unique-one of a kind
– Heredity-traits from parents
– Environment- everything around you
Self- Concept – sometimes referred to as
self image or identity is based on our own
perceptions of what we are good at and
what our skills and talents our.
Self concept is influenced by what we have
experienced, what people say, and what
we say to ourselves.
Do you have a realistic self concept?
Self concept
• The picture you have of yourself
and the way you believe other see
you
– Shaped by experiences throughout life
• Parents and family
• Friends and peers
– Changes with new experiences
• Age of person
• Life cycle
– Heredity and environment influences
Negative vs. Positive
• Negative – focus on my
weaknesses, lose confidence
• Positive – realistic about successes
and failures, does not mean you are
perfect.
Self-esteem
• The value or importance a person
places on themselves. It is
important because it has a strong
influence on behavior and well
being.
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Learn to accept praise
Focus on your strengths
Accept your self as you are
Learn from your mistakes
Use your strengths to help others
Take responsibility for your own life
Positive or high self esteem- feeling good
about who you are
 Accept who you are
 Set high but realistic goals
 Look at your strengths and be proud of
accomplishments
 Believe in your self
 Get involved in worth while activities
• Negative or low self esteem – not feeling
really good about who you are
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Put others down
Doesn’t try to meet new challenges
Unhappy with self
Easy to become involved in outward things
(drugs, gangs) to make self feel better
– Give up easily
– Put self down
Be all that you can be
• Realize your potential – the
capability of becoming more than
you are right now.
– Sidetracked from reaching your
potential by our own attitudes and
circumstances block progress.
– Procrastination- may reflect an
inability to set priorities and to be self
disciplined. If you constantly
procrastinate you fail to make use of
your potential.
• Personal growth-working toward your
potential.
• Involves learning and practicing new
skills, you are never to old to change and
learn.
Make a change for the Better
• Barriers to change-fear, thinking you have
to do it all yourself, forgetting that it takes
time.
• Opportunities for change-develop a plan,
need 2 qualities: competence and
confidence
– Competence-having the qualities and the skills
needed to perform a task or participate fully in
an activity.
• Gain some confidence-believe in
yourself
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Self assurance
Self control
Willingness to take reasonable risks
Positive self concept and high self
esteem
Set goals for change
Feeling confident and competence
provides a sense of power and
purpose.
Set goals and then make them a
reality
Life’s challenges
Change isn’t always something you
work toward, some changes
happen whether you want them to
or not.
Special challenges during your teen
years.
 Look ahead
 Think positive
 Take advantage of new abilities
 Get help when you need it
Challenges are a part of life and
everyone has to deal with
them.
Positive attitude
• Resilient- able to recover from or
adjust to change or misfortune
• Persevere-to work patiently to
overcome challenges
• Accept that some things cannot be
changed
• Work on those that can be changed
Develop a positive attitude
• Count your blessings, not your
misfortunes
• Work with what you have
• Welcome change
• Find the right opportunity
• Don’t fear failure
Taking Care of Yourself
Chapter 2
Objectives:
• Define the concept of wellness
• Discuss ways to promote physical,
mental/emotional, and social health
• Propose strategies for managing stress
• Describe safety precautions appropriate
for various situations
• Explain the connection between
abstinence and wellness
• Identify sources of information about
health
Health and Wellness
• Health has 3 main aspects:
physical, mental and social
• Each aspect is interrelated
• Wellness is an approach to life.
That emphasizes taking positive
steps toward overall good health.
• Taking responsibility for you well
being, being informed and making
appropriate decisions
Physical Health
• Nutrition
– Healthy eating can reduce the risks of
weight problems, heart disease,
diabetes and some forms of cancer.
• Physical activity – body is designed
to move
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Look and feel better
Greater strength and endurance
Maintain weight
Manage stress
Feel alert
• Rest – need 8 hours of sleep to
repair and revitalize
– Problems concentrating
• Hygiene-cleanliness
– A matter of simple good habits,
shower or bath, brushing & flossing,
keeping hair and nails clean
• Medical care –regular checkups
help detect problems early
Mental/Emotional Health
• Can you think clearly, feel good
about yourself and able to cope
with life’s demands.
• Maximize your mental/emotional
health
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Challenge to learn new things
Put your talents to good use
Learn from mistakes
Focus on the positive
Take responsibility for your choices
Be open minded and flexible
Develop positive ways to handle
emotions
Social Health
• Concerns the relationships you
have with the friends and family
– Treat others with kindness and respect
– Good communication
– Your role in society –are you making a
difference
Managing Stress
• Stress is your body’s response to
feeling overwhelmed by
responsibilities and demands
• The Key-to learn how to manage
Causes of Stress
• Family and Friends
• Pressure on yourself
• Major life events –divorce, death,
serious illness
• Daily hassles
• Not all stress is bad – in a crisis
stress helps focus the mind and
body to act
Managing Multiple Roles
•Roles are the parts you play when you
interact with others.
Stress Management Techniques
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Get Moving
Make time for yourself
Talk to someone
Plan ahead
Be realistic
Learn from experience
Learn to say no
Stay Safe
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Take responsibility for your safety
Be aware of the risks
Be prepared
Stay within your limits
Follow the rules
Know how to protect your self from
accidents
On the Road
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Wear a safety belt
Follow traffic laws
Never mix alcohol and vehicles
Stay focused
Drive defensively
Protect yourself from violence &
crime
• Wherever you are, stay aware of
surroundings
• At home
– Keep doors and windows locked
– If family violence seek help
• Online
– Internet safety a major concern
– You do not know who you can trust
• School
– Tell if it sounds dangerous
• Community
– Walk well lighted areas, keep valuables out of
sight.
– Appear confident
• Avoid risky behavior
– Abstinence of sexual activity, tobacco,
alcohol and other drugs
Developing Character
Chapter 3
Objectives:
• Explain how character impacts
individuals and society.
• Analyze the relationship between
values and character
• Compare ways people acquire
values.
• Explain the importance of living
according to one’s personal
standards.
• Describe how people can make
ethical choices.
What is character?
• People who have character possess
moral strength and integrity. They
understand the difference between
right and wrong.
• Accept and live by moral principles –
such as honesty, respect and caring.
• Developing character is an important
responsibility it promotes well being
of self and society
• Developing character is something
you must work at
• Mentor-someone who acts as a
teacher or guide.
Importance of values
• Values are the foundation which
character is built.
• Values are beliefs and ideas about
what is important.
• Your actions, the decisions you
make and the kind of person you
are all reflect our values.
• Universal values- values for all in
society – respect, fairness,
responsibility, caring and honesty
• Values are learned both directly
and indirectly.
Living by your values
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Consider the consequences
Listen to your conscience
Turn to your family
Gain knowledge
Evaluate the source
Talk to others
Setting your Standards
• A personal standard is a rule or principle
you set for yourself. It guides your
behavior by defining what you do and
don’t do.
• Personal standards prevent you from
making choices based on the mood of the
moment or on peer pressure.
• Setting personal standards ahead of time
is a way of being proactive-taking the
initiative to think and plan ahead for
situations they might encounter.
• A proactive person takes control of life
experiences rather then letting life
experiences control them.
Making Ethical choices
• Ethical choices are the choices you
make based on your ethics – the
principles and values that guide the
way you live. They are based on
what is fair, right, just , caring and
best for all people involved.
• Developing character is a learning
process
• Character is rooted in positive
values and exhibited in a person’s
actions. It withstands the test of
time and it is always there –even
when no one is looking.
Making a Difference
Chapter 4
Doing your Part
• As you think about making a
difference, remember this
important point: every effort
counts.
Showing responsibility
• Being responsible means you are
both reliable and accountablewilling to accept the consequences
of your actions and words.
Take on Leadership roles
•Leadership involves giving
people the direction they need
to achieve their goals.
•Success comes from
collaboration, the cooperative
efforts of everyone