Self Esteem Box Clients and the therapists I supervise always ask me for tips, tools and skills to build self esteem. The building blocks of self esteem are developed while receiving praise and accolades for successes, as well as pride for self, all throughout child development. If anything got in the way of that developmental task…a person’s self esteem is possibly less full as one would like. One of the tools that I use is a “Success Box”. This tool is for kids, teens, and adults. As each individual creates and fills up their “success box” they have a tangible way to access their success…and this will assist someone in building upon each success... thus building a strong sense of self esteem. Here’s how you create or help someone create a “Success box”: Use a shoebox or a box that is the same size and decorate the box according to your personality. (My box may have suns, stars, greens, blues and purples, pictures of animals, and perhaps a collage of beach scenes). Everyone’s box is different. As you begin the creation process, this is your “Success Box”. Start to fill the box up with letters/cards you have received praising you from others, note cards with your daily, weekly and yearly successes (any successes), awards, and your own note cards including positive thoughts about yourself. Parents helping their kids with a “Success Box”: use fun note cards and write your child successes daily and/or as each success occurs and give it to your child to place in their box. Include praise from teachers, other parents, siblings and adults in your child’s life. Now the box exists for when you are having a low moment: Just open the box and review the contents when you need them. We build our self esteem all throughout our life…so you can continue adding to your box and reviewing the contents whenever necessary. Have Fun! Lisa Friedman,LCSW www.lisafriedmanlcsw.com
At Lisa Friedman, LCSW INC we have a therapist that specializes in Children, Adolescents, Teens, Young adults Shan Monroe, LCSW (you can check her out on our website or her profile on Psychology Today by clicking her name above.