Why the Focus on Power and Esteem?
As we continue to explore how the core needs of children/youth can be met as defined by the Choice Therapy principles of Dr. William Glasser, it is our hope that this information will be used to strengthen children and youth with increasing high resiliency features. (More on Choice Theory principals/William Glasser, M.D.)
Children and youth who have high resiliency may be less vulnerable to the risk for destructive and self-destructive behaviors. Children and youth usually adopt these types of negative behaviors in an attempt to meet their core needs. In the short-term, destructive behaviors such as substance abuse, eating disorders, gang involvement and promiscuity may feel very good to a child/youth who knows no other way to meet their needs. At their young age, many children/youth are not very receptive to discussion about how these destructive behaviors will hurt them and others further down the road.
So, it is our hope, here at the Children Matter Network, that we all work together to prevent these destructive behaviors by learning together how to meet our children/youth’s needs in healthy ways: physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.
This segment explores the importance of children developing and growing their sense of power and esteem. This is defined as: self-esteem; esteem by others; power; achievement; a sense of being worthwhile; healthy competing and having confidence.
Destructive and self destructive behaviors meet these needs in the short-term by helping children/youth feel they are powerful-through the mood alteration of substance abuse, eating disordered behavior to comfort emotions and to try to make one’s body fit an image in order to feel loved and accepted or the lure of belonging to a gang which promotes a sense of acceptance while participating in destructive acts towards others and society.
During this Winter season, CMN offers this information on promoting positive power and esteem for our children/youth and helping them develop into healthy and happy adults: physically, spiritually, intellectually and emotionally.