DEVELOPING GOOD CHARACTER Lesson 6

What is “Character?”  A person’s use of self- control to act on responsible values

 Self-respect: a high regard for oneself because one behaves in responsible ways.  Conceit: excessive appreciation of one’s worth.  Values: a standard or belief.  Family value: a standard that is held & copied by family members.  Self-control: the degree to which a person regulates their own behavior.

How would you describe yourself?  Honest  Forgiving  Fair  Loyal  Trustworthy  Tolerant  Compassionate  Considerate  Respectful  Open-minded  Responsible  Kind  Self- controlled/disciplined  Courageous  Reliable  Cooperative

Six Pillars of Character  Trustworthiness  Respect  Responsibility  Fairness  Caring  Citizenship

Pillars Color Scheme  Trustworthiness: “true blue”  Respect: Golden Rule  Responsibility: green  Fairness: orange, equal sections  Caring: red, from the heart  Citizenship: purple, state of royalty

T R R F C C  Trustworthiness  Respect  Responsibility  Fairness  Caring  Citizenship

 Moderation: placing limits to avoid excess.  Delayed gratification: voluntarily postponing an immediate reward in order to complete at task before enjoying a reward.

Self-Esteem: a person’s belief about their worth.  Positive self-esteem: a person’s belief that they are worthy and deserves respect.  Negative self-esteem: a person’s belief that they are NOT worth and does NOT deserve respect.  A person’s self-esteem should be based on the appropriateness of their actions.

Why you need to develop positive self-esteem  You will practice life skills  Make responsible decisions  Know you are unique  Good foundation during difficult times  Willing to take calculated risks  Expect others to treat you with respect

Three steps to develop good character and improve self- esteem  Make a character check  Control the belief statements that motivate you  Give yourself a dose of self-respect

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

10 Ways to Improve Self-esteem  Pay attention to your appearance  List your responsible actions  Be your “best” friend  Write down feelings  Spend time with family a priority  Treat others how you want to be treated

 Let others know what makes you feel special  Support family & friends’ interest & ask them to support yours  Found out examples of actions that show good character  Plenty of exercise – beta- endorphins- substances produced in the brain that create a feeling of well being