Choosing Friends Carefully Helps Kids Develop Self-Esteem

Most adults know which ‘friends’ are good influences and which aren’t so great.

The word ‘frenemy’ was coined for a good reason- sometimes it’s hard to tell who wants you to be the best you can be and who wouldn’t mind seeing you falter.

Whether it’s as seemingly harmless as their trying to get you to eat food you’re trying to avoid, participate in gossip that hurts others, procrastinate rather than tackling a job at hand, spend money you should save – or something more dangerous -you know who has your best interest at heart.

But kids have to learn about bad influences and how to avoid them or at least keep them at bay.  One of the greatest skills an adult can teach children is how to surround themselves with the best influences possible.

I read this little reminder in a newsletter I received recently.  I like the analogy it uses and think that kids (and adults) can relate to it.  See what you think:

 “Life is a theatre. Invite your audience carefully. Not everyone gets to have a front row seat.”

Think about it:

There are some people in your life who need to be loved from a distance. It’s not that you don’t want them in your life, but you don’t want them to have too much influence or power over your thoughts, actions and beliefs.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you put suspect people in their place or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, not-going-anywhere friendships.

Pay attention to your ‘friends.”

Which ones lift? Which ones lean?

Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?

Which ones are on a path of growth uphill? Which ones are sliding downhill?

When you leave certain people, do you feel better or worse?

Which ones are filled with drama and doubt?

Which ones motivate you and fill you with excitement?

The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.”

I don’t know who wrote these original thoughts, but I think the analogy and concepts are good ones to have in any life skills toolbox. They relate to the work world too.

Share this with the kids around you and discuss what it means. Self-esteem, self-confidence and self-respect are strengthened by understanding that everyone has the right to choose who is front and center in their lives.

They are the ones in the front row clapping and cheering you on!

GetCareerWise.com resources help open kids’ eyes to all the wonderful jobs there are in the world. Along the way they learn valuable career and life skills. And, they learn the importance of developing marketable skills so they can live independent and productive lives doing something they enjoy.