Low self esteem seems like a rite of passage for most teenagers. Even the most popular teenager struggles with concerns over their looks or something they said. But what is a parent to do when the typical teen woes or self deprecation becomes a habit. What is the best way to build up your teen with low self esteem? And how as a mom can I build my teen’s confidence is a way that is authentic, setting my teenager up for a lifelong healthy mindset?
This week, I am so excited to share a new resource put together JUST for TEENS! Author Dr. Shainna Ali and her team sent me a copy of The Self Love Workbook for Teens to read. And it totally flipped my expectations on how to help teenagers!
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What is Low Self Esteem in Teenagers?
According to Dr. Ali, self esteem is how, “you view your worth, and how you you think, feel and act because of your assessment.” So if a teenager believes that they have little worth or value, they will have a “poor view of themselves.” And unfortunately, this viewpoint will cross into every area of their life, tainting it.
But in her workbook, The Self Love Workbook for Teens, Dr Ali, helps to show that while self-esteem is important, it is just ONE aspect of self love. By learning the others factors of self love, parents can improve teen’s self-esteem and also help teenagers create a healthy mindset to carry them through life!
Best Way to Build Up Your Teen with Low Self Esteem
Most moms can attest, healthy self care is even more important than ever.
Teens are often overwhelmed on multiply levels by comparisons, school concerns, friend troubles, and personal attacks. And unlike when we were kids, the internet has created a dynamic whereby teens receive little rest from the social criticism, even when they are in their homes.
So when I learned that I was going to be sent a copy of The Self Love Workbook for Teens my interest was piqued!
Ok, so granted anytime I hear the words “free book,” I do get excited. I have to be honest.
But I have received a few books in the last year or two that I had planned on reviewing for you all. But after receiving, I knew I could not say that I like it enough to recommend.
However, The Self Love Workbook for Teens far exceeded my expectations. To say I was a bit gaga over all the helpful exercises is putting it mildly!
Dr. Ali’s workbook, The Self Love Workbook for Teens, has quality information like you might receive during a first rate counseling session. But I loved that she also explains things in such a straightforward manner that a teen can easily get it! This workbook has none of the bland, dumb downed exercises you sometimes see in teen curriculum!
The Self Love Workbook for Teens is a life changing resource for parents who wish to build up their teen with low self-esteem!
Ok, so let’s dive in so I can tell you what I love and the ONE (or two) things I didn’t love!
The Self Love Workbook for Teens Review
The Self Love Workbook for Teens is a soft cover workbook. There are 8 chapters covering topics one might expect such as self-esteem, boundaries, self-care and personal goals. But the workbook also covers fresh, innovative topics such as finding blind spots, creating support systems and embracing imperfections.
The workbook is meant to be written in and has lots of space to respond, journal and create action steps. The muted blue and green cover makes the workbook appealing without being gender specific. And the page weight makes it perfect for drawing and writing in the book, even with the colored pens I used:)
- Fresh, innovative topics
- Colorful, soft cover workbook
- Geared just for teenagers
- Wide variety of reflection exercises
- Perfect paper weight for journaling and drawing
Helpful Overview to Understand Self Love
The Self Love Workbook guides teens into understanding that there are “seven segments of self love”. Self awareness, self motivation, self esteem, self respect. self-kindness, self-exploration, and self-growth are the seven offshoots of self love.
An image of a flower with each petal representing a section of self love mentally solidifies the overview. And then the chapters are split into these categories, with each page clearly labeled at the bottom with a segment.
Visual learners and teens will find the picture outline and page titles super helpful! Like a map, the visual overview helps the reader to know exactly where they are in their personal growth journey.
Eye Opening Exercises to Build Up Your Teen With Low Self Esteem
Over the years, I have had a variety of information given to me from which to teach. And a fair amount of it has left me underwhelmed. Not the case with this workbook. As I journeyed further and further into the workbook, I was so impressed not only by the well written content exercises but the depth!
For example, Dr. Ali has exercises on “inner conflict.” Most adults have discovered that when parts of our life don’t match up with what we say we belief, we are in conflict.
Unfortunately, we don’t stop to think through what it means to truly make our life goals and our daily choices match. Often, even as adults, we choose life goals or verbalize a life goal, but never get there since we don’t make daily choices that actually take us toward our goal.
In The Self Love Workbook, teens will learn what inner conflict is and how to create a life that is aligned, where your feelings, experiences, behaviors and values match. Thus creating a life that is way less stressful!
Another eye opening exercise was the author’s work on building confidence. Teens are encouraged to think of confidence as “trust you have in yourself.” She walks teens through several exercises where they think of times they felt they could trust themselves.
Again, the author takes familiar terms and then flips them! It feels like you are looking at a self esteem and confidence through a completely different lens. So teens will be comfortable with most of the workbook terms, but the new approach will bring fresh conversation!
Various Exercises and Formats to Build Self Esteem and Self Love
Every person learns a bit differently so I appreciated that the workbook has tons of different exercises. Some of the exercises are short answer and others fill in the blank. While other book activities are circling the option that fits best for the reader or creating artwork.
There is a LOT of information in the book, but the author makes it clear in the beginning that teens don’t have to complete every exercise. But I did love that the author comes at each concept with a variety of activities.
Our daughter is not a huge workbook type person, unlike her mother:) But I found a variety of ideas on new ways to start a conversation on a topic or a fun interactive exercise that I could pull from the workbook.
Wonderful Quotes on Self Love and Personal Growth
Something small, but a nice detail I appreciated are all the quotes from famous people spread throughout the book. I love history, and it is always fun to hear what others have used to motivate themselves to keep going. And I believe it is important for our teenagers to realize that as BIG as their problems feels, others have faced similar troubles.
Focus is on the Work and Personal Growth
Shainna Ali keeps the workbook focused on the work! The Self Love Workbook for Teens has plenty of relevant topics such as healthy boundaries, bullying, equality, and self awareness so it will feel current for teenagers.
But the workbook is impressive in its focus on the personal growth work without pushing one agenda or viewpoint, which I really love. The workbook can easily be used in school classrooms, a church youth group, as a compliment to counseling or at home!
Tons of Tips to Develop Healthy Self Esteem and Self Love
Dealing with a teen that is struggling with self image or self esteem can make a parent feel helpless. You want your teenager to see themselves as the amazing person you see!
But sometimes it isn’t enough to just tell your kid they are great. The Self Love Workbook for Teens is that lifeline for parents to teach their kids how to create a healthy mindset.
The workbook exercises create steps to walk with your teen so that you can help guide them. For example, instead of just telling your teen they shouldn’t allow their “friend” to treat them poorly, the workbook offers a path. Parents will find the steps and language to take their teen from struggling with setting healthy boundaries with friends to showing them how and why.
One Thing I Would Change About the Workbook
There were only two small things that I would add or change about the workbook. One, it would be nice if there was a glossary in the back with some of the character quality words. Working with teens, I know that there are many words that I would assume they should know, that they do not.
And it would have been nice if the workbook had a few more white spaces for doodling or drawing to be even more appealing to creative types.
But overall, I think this is a first class workbook that is way more in depth and helpful than similar workbooks. And I believe most teens will enjoy the interactive exercises. For parents it is an amazing resource to help build your teen with low self esteem!
The Self Love Workbook for Teens
I absolutely loved the workbook and would highly recommend it to parents of teens. This would be a great gift for a teen that enjoys journaling and self reflecting.
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If you wish to encourage your teenager and build up your teen with low self-esteem, The Self Love Workbook for Teens is the perfect way to come along side your teen and work together.
At less than $15, the workbook is a no brainer! One hour of counseling is double or triple that, even with insurance! With this amazing resource you will have so many opportunities to dialogue with your teenager, at home, building up their confidence and setting them on the road to a lifetime of healthy self love!
Teachers and counselors will also find this authentic, jammed packed workbook super beneficial for their work with teenagers! You will find coming up with healthy mindset exercises simple and satisfying!
Head over here to grab your copy!
Enjoyed this topic? Read more here on 25 Self Care Activities for Teens!
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