Raising Confident and Resilient Teens in Today’s World
Adolescence is an already tumultuous time for young people, but in today’s world packed with the pressure of social media, likes, follows, filters, and seemingly perfect influencers, parents have even more work on their hands when it comes to raising confident and resilient teens. The desire for validation and popularity among teenagers can lead to mounting pressures of comparison and competition, making it challenging for parents to know how to help.
Dr. Simone Alicia, known globally as The Self Esteem Doctor, is a 5-star rated self-esteem coach, international speaker, and founder of The Self Esteem Doctor Academy. Dr. Simone is known for her quick and consistent results in personal development, and she has a unique talent for transforming the abstract concept of self-esteem into stunning visuals, hands-on demonstrations, and practical tools that are both entertaining and results-driven for all ages. When we asked her her tips for raising confident and resilient teens, her answers were as follows.
Tip 1: Be Authentic
One of the problems parents face when encouraging their teens to be confident is that they themselves are not demonstrating confidence. Teens may see this as hypocritical or fake, and conclude that the parents’ advice and suggestions don’t really work and are not worth listening to. For parents to effectively help their teens become more confident, they must first lead by example and be confident themselves.
Tip 2: Use Solutions They Can Relate To
Teens often see influencers and celebrities as the most relevant resource for life lessons and real representations of success. This can be dangerous in some ways, but parents can use it to their advantage by reminding their teens that celebrities and influencers are human and shouldn’t be placed on a pedestal of perfection. Parents can then seek out influencers and celebrities who maintain a positive message with the teen audience and share clips with them through social media. With consistent exposure and repetition of positive messaging, teens can be influenced in more positive ways and ultimately inspired to adopt a more confident and resilient mindset.
Tip 3: Lead by Example
It’s never too late for parents to learn about confidence and resilience, as these skills are not just for teens but also for adults. By unlocking their own strength as a parent and stepping into a place of empowerment, parents can reach their teens from a personal place of experience and lead by example. This can also be a wonderful opportunity to create a legacy that parents can pass on to their teens.
Dr. Simone suggests trying these specific tools to help increase confidence and resilience:
Heart-Centered Breathing
Pause throughout the day and visualize breathing through your heart. This can help synchronize the heart and mind for added clarity during a busy day.
Mental Imagery
When faced with a new or uncomfortable task, pause to imagine it going perfectly. This creates a roadmap in the brain that says, “Hey, this could work out,” and can reduce feelings of nervousness.
Be a Best Friend to Yourself
When difficult moments arise, practice speaking to yourself positively. This is known as self-talk and can be instrumental in lifting spirits and improving performance and outcomes. When parents do this out loud, they become the ultimate role model for their teens.
In conclusion, while the journey to confidence and resilience may be challenging, the payoff is well worth it for both parents and teens. By being authentic, using solutions that teens can relate to, and leading by