Developing a
Positive Identity
Chapter 7
Lesson #2
Pages 178-183
DO NOW
1) List some of the features
that make each person an
individual.
2) What aspects of a persons
life can influence their
development as a
individual?
Your Personal Identity
• Personal Identity
– Your sense of yourself as a unique
individual
• Created like a jigsaw puzzle, ;
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Interests
Likes and dislikes
Talents and Abilities
Values and beliefs
Goals
Developmental Assets
• The building blocks of development that help
young people grow up as healthy, caring and
responsible individuals.
• Developmental Assets include;
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Support (family, friends, neighborhood, school)
Empowerment (valued, purpose, feeling safe)
Boundaries and Expectations (personal influences)
Constructive Use of Time
Commitment to Learning
Positive Values (character)
Social Competencies (tolerance, decision making)
Positive Identity (self-esteem)
Activity
1) Do you think most teens
have the benefits of all of
these assets? WHY?
2) Which of these assets can
teens strengthen on their
own? How?
3) List the assets you feel are
especially important. Why?
How to Create a Healthy
Identity
– 1) Recognize your strengths and
weaknesses
• Take pride in your strengths and accomplishments
• Set goals for accomplishing your weaknesses
– 2) Demonstrate positive values
• Guide your actions and influence the decisions
you make. Ex: show honesty, comfort a sad
friend, being trustworthy, etc.
Healthy Identity
– 3) Develop a purpose in your life
• Framework for your mental health as your grow
• Sense of purpose = goals and achieving them
- 4) Form meaningful relationships
• Helps develop a sense of purpose in your life
• Helps build confidence and a sense of security or
belonging
Healthy Identity
• 5) Contribute to the community
– Provides services and resources to meet your needs
– Giving back gives you a sense of accomplishment
• 6) Avoid unhealthy risk behaviors
– A normal part of life, helps define and develop you
– Healthful risk-taking has a positive effect on
developing who you are as a person
– Unhealthy risks can be dangerous
Self-Esteem and Positive
Outlooks
• Self-Esteem- Comes from the understanding
that you are a unique and valuable human
being.
• When you have a healthy identity, you will
experience increased self-esteem and a higher
level of mental/emotional health.
• Having a positive outlook is also related to your
general level of wellness
Working Toward High
Self-Esteem
• People with high self-esteem….
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Take responsibility for their behavior
Generally have a positive outlook on life
Like and accept who they are overall
Try to learn from their successes as well as from their
mistakes
– Build and maintain healthy relationships
• To improve self-esteem…
– Think of appropriate ways to share your positive
attributes
– Engage in behaviors that will promote your health
Realistic Patterns of
Thinking
• To increase your self-esteem and develop a
positive outlook on life, its important to see
events REALISTICALLY.
• Constructive Criticism
– Non-hostile comments that point out problems and
encourage improvement
• Analyzing Self-Talk
– Replace negative messages with constructive
criticism. If you make a mistake, tell yourself
everyone makes mistakes and LEARN from your
mistake.
– Be able to tell yourself “Good Job!”
ACTIVITY:
How & why do these help?
• Home field advantage
• Training partners
• Support groups
Interactive study
guide
• http://glencoe.mcgrawhill.com/sites/dl/free/0078726549/35
9990/InterActCh7Ls2.html