Self-esteem is the overall way we view ourselves - how good or bad we feel about who we are at the core. People who have strong self esteem will feel good about themselves underneath - even when they are not feeling well, are feeling sad, have just failed a test or have lost a good friend. Strong positive self esteem is the major protective factor that will help a person deal positively with loss and emotional crisis.

The two components that make up our self esteem are:

• our sense of connection with others, and;
• our sense of our accomplishments in life/our ability to control important aspects of our life.

Many First Nations youth struggle with lack of positive self-esteem. Their sense of connection is fragile because of the breakdown in culture, community, family and land based activity. In addition, it can be very hard to feel like they have achieved successes that count when the school system in the remote north does not meet education needs, and the common things teens on TV and in cities are seen achieving are difficult to access in the North.

Each of us has the power to improve ourselves, but some people don't discover this power until they are older, and some never discover their own power at all. Finding your personal strength doesn't require magic. What it does require is admitting that you are a good person who is worth the energy it takes to become an even better person. We build our won self-esteem when we recognize the special talents we have. Maybe you are a great basketball, hockey or volleyball player; perhaps you read alot; maybe you are a good listener; maybe you are a hard worker. Unfortunately, we often focus on what's wrong with ourselves instead of what our strengths are.

If we never recognize our strengths, we begin to feel that we are just a collection of bad qualities. Not only is such thinking unhealthy, it is also not true.

Here are a couple of worksheets you can fill out and discuss in small groups. Remember, everyone of us is unique and valuable to our society and to our Nation.

Click here to download a handout called "My Personal Qualities" to see that you are unique.

Click here to download a handout called "My Character Strengths". Once you have completed the exercises share your results with a classmate.