Asset #37, Personal Power

Download MS Word
Download Text

Asset Story Archive
11/02 Asset # 37, Personal Power

10/02 Asset #36, Peaceful Conflict Resolution

09/02 Asset #24, Bonding to School

08/02 Asset #7, Community Values Youth

07/02 Asset #38, Self-esteem

05/02 Asset #40, Positive View of Personal Future

04/02 Asset #31, Restraint

03/02 Asset #32, Planning and Decision Making

02/02 Asset #29, Honesty

Tie Thanksgiving to Youth Empowerment

Thanksgiving is the practice of choosing to think about our blessings. It doesn't mean we deny problems, but instead, that we choose to face our difficulties with courage, optimism, creativity and faith.

According to Sam Quick, Ph.D., a Human Development and Family Relations Specialist, "The most challenging level of thanksgiving is to maintain a positive, grateful attitude even when confronted with problems. Of course, problems and their associated painful feelings need to be faced, dealt with and learned from. Yet, even in difficult circumstances, we can be appreciative for what didn't go wrong and for the opportunity to learn and grow." A sense of appreciation helps us to have a positive outlook and is an important value that adults can help instill in young people.

Assets for Colorado Youth (ACY), a nonprofit organization promoting positive youth development, encourages all adults to play a part in helping young people feel empowered to control the things that happen to them. Dr. María Guajardo Lucero, executive director of ACY, points out, "Resilience and personal strength are all manifestations of youth who have received consistent messages from adults, who have been given clear boundaries and high expectations, who feel valued and supported and who have had strong role models to help them develop positive values."

Youth who have these developmental assets-or building blocks of healthy youth development-have a sense of personal power. When young people experience personal power they do not blame themselves for bad things that happen to them; instead, they focus on the positive steps they can take to remedy the situation. They feel empowered, not helpless or victimized. And they believe they can make a difference.

What role can parents and other adults play in building personal power in youth? Talking to young people about how to relate to others and how to handle difficult situations can help guide them. The following suggestions give adults some ideas for helping young people gain a sense of personal power through learning to be appreciative:

• Zero in on a problem the young person has struggled with and identify at least three positive things s/he has learned as a result of the experiences surrounding this problem.
  
• Suggest the young person make an extra effort to see any problems that come up over the next several days as a challenge, and to focus on the positive aspects.
  
• Encourage a young person to write a note of appreciation to a loved one, neighbor, teacher or friend.
  
• Invite a young person to tell all immediate family members something s/he appreciates about them over the next few days.

Get monthly news on asset-building, tips, upcoming events and asset stories delivered right to your desktop by subscribing to the ACY Breaking News e-mail. Send your subscription request to kirsten@assetsforcoyouth.org.