A talk for young people designed to help them
take charge of their lives and increase the options they have when face with difficult
situations. Self-esteem is also explored in this presentation.
Now more than ever, young people need to understand their own power. They need to
see the choices they have when faced with personal setbacks and other "stressful"
situations The turmoil and tragedy recently surrounding the "bully" issue
demonstrates that many young people see themselves as having limited options in these
circumstances. Many see themselves as being at the mercy of the
aggressor or that their
only option is a physical one. And as with adults, when young people see themselves
as helpless, their belief in themselves drops. When that drops, a wide range of
behaviors can ensue, most of them bad. In a challenging, thought provoking
presentation or even more effective, an in depth training series for both children
and adults, Dr. Sheperd points out how we have fallen into a pattern in which we
accept our helplessness instead of looking for our choices.
"I can't help how I feel!"
"He makes me mad."
"There's nothing I can do about it."
Dr. Sheperd challenges students to look at how they value themselves. What are
their criteria? Do they compare themselves to others? Does most of their value
rest on one or two indicators, like popularity, grades, etc.? "We give away power
so often to the little things in life in our day to day lives that we don't have a chance
when the big things comes along." says Dr. Sheperd. "My approach is to help young people look at what they can
do to get their power back, and what they must quit doing if they are
not going to be at the mercy of unpleasant events or people." Topics such as
"Courage", "Awareness", "Integrity", "Understanding the Relationship between Thoughts,
Feelings and Behaviors," are covered in detail. "Young people deserve better than just
trite slogans or phrases," says Dr. Sheperd. "I am giving them a program of substance
and the implicit belief that they are up to the challenge.
|
