The Self-Esteem Habit for Teens: 50 Simple Ways to Build Your Confidence Every Day

by Lisa M. Schab LCSW

Overview

Make self-esteem a habit, every day. Written by Lisa Schab, author of Self-Esteem for Teens, The Self-Esteem Habit for Teens offers 50 simple, positive thoughts and immediate actions to help you “perceive it, believe it, achieve it!”

When it comes to cultivating positive self-esteem, the teen years are the most challenging. You’re probably experiencing major changes—at school, with friends, physically, and mentally. But you may be tempted to compare yourself to your peers, friends, and celebrities, or get caught up in the seemingly perfect lives of others via social media. These comparisons, along with self-criticism, can feed into your insecurities and cause you to feel like you just aren’t good enough. So, how can you break the negative habits of comparison and self-criticism and start being a true friend to you?

In The Self-Esteem Habit for Teens, you’ll learn 50 easy, little ways you can make self-esteem a reality (and a habit!) every day—anytime, anywhere. Following the advice within this fun, pocket-sized guide, you’ll discover the six steps of lasting self-esteem, and find tips to help you learn from your mistakes, practice gratitude, see things from a different perspective, celebrate strengths, stop overgeneralizing, and cultivate healthy relationships.

Real change only happens with repeated practice. If you’re looking for concrete, immediate ways to help you practice and live the principles of self-esteem in your daily life, this little guide is chock-full of wisdom, positive thoughts, and immediate actions to help you be your best self—your authentic self!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626259195
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	01/02/2018
Series:	Instant Help Solutions Series
Pages:	200
Sales rank:	282,984
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Lisa M. Schab, LCSW, is a practicing psychotherapist in the greater Chicago, IL, area; and author of 20 self-help books, including The Anxiety Workbook for Teens, The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens and the teen guided journals, Put Your Worries Here and Put Your Feelings Here. She has been interviewed as an expert on the Milwaukee television stations WTMJ-TV and WISN-TV, by The New York Times, Scholastic Choices magazine, Teen Vogue, Psych Central, and Kate Shannon’s Creative Therapy Umbrella podcast. Schab has authored regular mental health columns for Chicago Parent Magazine and The Sun Newspapers. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Table of Contents

PART 1: Positive Thoughts
1. Recognize Your Power
2. Claim Your Value and Worth
3. Understand and Release Devaluing Messages
4. Choose Positive Self-Messages
5. Adjust Your Attitude
6. Practice Gratitude
7. Celebrate Your Strengths
8. Embrace Your Differences
9. View Yourself with Compassion
10. Learn from Your Mistakes
11. Compare to Yourself, Not to Others
12. Love Your Body
13. See Infinite Possibilities
14. Focus on the Present Moment
15. Avoid Overgeneralizing
16. Don’t Take Everything Personally
17. Believe in Abundance
18. See the Bigger Picture
19. Eliminate All-or-Nothing Thinking
20. Realize No One Has a Perfect Life
21. Think from the Facts, Not the Feeling
22. Know It’s Okay If Not Everyone Likes You
23. Refuse to Have a Pity Party
24. Accept Your Journey
25. Find More Than One Source for Self-Esteem
PART 2: Positive Actions
26. Get to Know Your Authentic Self
27. Live from Your Authentic Self
28. Use Mindful Breathing to Stay Calm and Clear
29. Manage Your Feelings
30. Learn to Tolerate Discomfort
31. Set Realistic Goals
32. Increase Your Peace
33. Use Problem-Solving Skills
34. Make Positive Decisions
35. Act with Conviction
36. Take Responsibility Instead of Blaming
37. Work with Your Weaknesses
38. Face Challenges Head-On
39. Turn Things Around
40. Practice Basic Social Skills
41. Act Assertively
42. Set Healthy Boundaries
43. Choose Friends Who Value and Respect You
44. Run Your Own Life
45. Surround Yourself with Positivity
46. Move Your Body
47. Try New Things
48. Wear a Smile
49. Look the Part of Healthy Self-Esteem
50. Ask for Help
Ending Notes
Acknowledgments

Interviews

Schab resides in Antioch, IL.

Editorial Reviews

01/29/2018
This addition to the Instant Help Solutions series advises teenage readers on how to develop self-esteem. Schab emphasizes that self-esteem isn’t simply about feeling good about oneself but about being fair-minded, reflective, and compassionate. She provides 50 “thinking habits” to aid them in building positive self-images. For each habit, she includes scenarios in which a teenager struggles with negative feelings (“Michael hated his sensitivity. Most of his friends liked horror films and contact sports, but Michael preferred happy endings and working out solo).” In each scenario, a peer or adult urges the teenager toward reframing their thinking by, for example, celebrating their strengths, finding more than one source for self-esteem, facing challenges head-on, and setting boundaries. Though the layout is fairly text-dense, readers are sure to find helpful techniques for building themselves up in the real world. Ages 13–up. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

An excellent read—full of guidance and practical, ageless wisdom for teens who are looking to better themselves.”
—Robert W. Hasselmann, MA, middle school teacher, Robbins, IL


“As with other books written by the author on this subject, this is easy to read, makes sense, and easy to apply with my clients individually, in group settings, or in family therapy sessions. My clients’ ages range between ten and twenty-three, and many are at-risk youth, children, and families. I like using the book for ideas to assist clients who struggle with depression, bullying, and anxiety. They find the information applicable as they read and journal, and we process new skills. The information is therapeutic and backed by empirically sound research. This is not merely a ‘self-help’ book. This book is a great tool I’ve added to my counseling toolbox.”
—Nancy DeWeese, MAMHC, LPC, family therapist with Professional Services Group


“Excellent resource that can be used by everyone—young and old! ‘Perceive it, believe it, achieve it!’ is a thought and activity process in the book that can be used in every area of life. In addition, the fifty simple ways to build confidence are just that—simple. Finally, the exercises are easily personalized for each person. Highly recommended! Great workbook!”
—Kim Kanish, blended case manager, Family Psychological Association


“Lisa Schab’s The Self-Esteem Habit for Teens is a well-articulated definition of self-esteem and how a teen can acquire and strengthen it in their life. It’s really simple and easy to follow, builds on itself, and it’s not boring. ... This manual is a ‘must-have’ for any teen who wants to feel good about themselves.”
—Edward J. Nekarda, LCSW, BCD, MDiv, psychotherapist in private practice, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) specialist, and certified rapid trauma resolution therapist


“A wonderful resource and guide for all ages. The exercises in this book are easy to follow and there is something to appeal to almost everyone looking for a self-esteem boost or reset. I finished reading with the thought that I wish I would have had this when I was a teen.”
—Ann Almgren, president at Harvard Diggins City Library Board, Harvard Diggins Library, Harvard, IL

From the Publisher

01/01/2018
Gr 7 Up—As a companion to Schab's 2016 Self-Esteem for Teens: Six Principles for Creating the Life You Want, this offers 50 important and effective ways for teens to make positive changes in their lives. Based on the principles of mindfulness—gratitude, radical acceptance, and being non-judgmental both personally and of others—the book is broken into two parts. The first part addresses instilling positive thoughts, while the second focuses upon positive actions. Each entry begins with a perceptive hypothetical scenario, then introduces an associated positive thought or action to "perceive, believe, and achieve." Helpful step-by-step advice is given each time and a pertinent quote by someone famous enhances each goal. Goals range from dealing with various insecurities, to friendships, to making good choices, to making amends, and to reversing self-harm. Teens can aim for the goals with which they best connect, though the advice can be applied universally. VERDICT Deftly written, easy to follow and comprehend, and completely on target, this self-help guidebook belongs in every school and public library nonfiction collection serving teens.—Diane P. Tuccillo, Poudre River Public Library District, CO

School Library Journal