By Rohini Gopal
Ursuline Academy
Texas Metro News
How you talk to yourself in the morning can shape your confidence, mindset, and decisions throughout the day. According to Psychology Today study in early April, confidence is a belief in oneself, the conviction that one can meet life’s challenges and succeed, and the willingness to act accordingly.
Confidence is not an innate fixed characteristic; it is something that we must build on. From toddlers to preteens to young adults, humans’ confidence level increases as they get older and more mature. Many teenagers of Generation Z struggle with this because they are shifting social dynamics and have anxiety due to posts on social media, family issues, attacks on identity, and the list goes on.
In a National Library of Health study in May of 2023, it was noted that confidence is a metacognitive experience which refers to a person’s awareness and feelings elicited in a problem-solving situation.
This study was written by psychologists from the University of Newcastle in Australia and the University of Sydney in Australia. The researchers examined whether having too little confidence or too much confidence relative to one’s actual ability is associated with different personality and behavioral outcomes.
Many teenagers have been and currently are in situations where they must stand up for themselves and make tough decisions on whether they should go to a school dance or study for an upcoming exam.
According to Total Life Counseling, building self esteem in teenagers means helping them feel good about themselves and confidently supporting them in facing challenges. Some ways to increase self esteem is to clarify your personal values and to celebrate small wins such as completing a final exam or receiving a higher belt in martial arts.
