Boost Your Child's Self-Esteem through Positive Actions

We live in a world that makes it difficult for us to come down off of the stress that we are all experiencing. As adults, we probably experience the stress at work and in our home life, in many cases. What we may tend to forget, however, is that our children are also feeling the stress and it can really wreak havoc on their self-esteem and confidence that they may need to get through their day-to-day lives. That is why it is important for us, as parents, to recognize the problems that may be happening to our children and to assist them in being able to cope.

There are a number of different ways that we can help our children in this regard, and it really depends upon their personality, age and what their problems may happen to be. Something that all of us can do, however, is to provide a positive atmosphere for our children that will assist them in being able to find shelter whenever they are in our homes. This may be difficult for many of us to do, especially if we are struggling with our own sense of worth but if we are able to do so, we will find that everybody benefits as a result.

There are a number of different things that you may be able to do in order to provide this positive atmosphere. Communication with your children is one of those, and this may be something that takes some time to establish. Having some family time that is free of stressful communication is also an important part of making sure that your child feels safe inside of the home. The more of a welcoming environment that you're able to provide for them, the more that you will find they are blossoming and becoming comfortable with themselves and the world around them.

About the Author

Maureen Amberg has many "secrets to raising great kids. "http://www.KidsEdgeOnSelfEsteem.com"

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Muscle Building For Teens

Muscle Building For Teens

By Kris Frederiksen-http://BuildingBigMuscle
Muscle building for teens has become more and more common these days.Maybe due to low self-esteem.Maybe to gain more respect from their male counterparts, and more attention from their female peers. Whatever the reasons, I believe starting at a younger age is a good thing because it instills a healthy, active and nutritious lifestyle which will most likely carry on throughout adulthood.

The first thing you need to do when it comes to muscle building is focus on creating a strong foundation.By this, I mean concentrate on building strong, muscular attachments-tendons,ligaments and bones.You accomplish this by developing a full range of motion with each weight training exercise.So instead of starting out with 200lbs. of weight, and only being able to squat half way to the floor, lift less weight and squat all the way to the floor.This is way more beneficial because it strengthens all the supporting tissues more rapidly.It's better to do it correct than half-ass.

Secondly, make sure you can handle your own bodyweight before you start lifting.This is the #1 rule for beginner bodybuilders.If you cannot stabilize, control and move efficiently using your own bodyweight, then you should most definitely not be using weights.First condition your body for when you do introduce weight, and it will even make your abilities to increase your load progress faster.

One final piece of advice in regards to muscle building for teens is stretch, stretch, stretch! I cannot stress this enough.This is advice that all bodybuilders should follow, but I really want to impress upon this for teens especially because it is a good habit to get into right from the get-go.You need to stretch at least half as much as you train.Which means, if you are weight training 3 hours a week, then you should be stretching for at least 3 hours as well.

The reason you need to do this is that weight training shortens and tightens the connective tissue, and stretching will counter the effects, and ensure your muscles have room to grow.

Failing to stretch the appropriate amount is only going to lead to injury.And remember, it will not only benefit you, but it will benefit your progress because shortened muscles perform weaker.

Taking these important tips to heart, and learning the proper way to weight-train is only going to be beneficial to you in the long run. So, even though it may seem like things are progressing slowly, you definitely will reap the benefits in the long run.Be patient, learn the proper techniques by getting a professional trainer/coach, or following a muscle building program and you will be seeing results a lot sooner than you think.

About the Author

For more information about muscle building for teens, including training videos, please visit my website http://www.BuildingBigMuscle.com

Bodybuilding For Hardgainers

Bodybuilding For Hardgainers

By Kris Frederiksen-http://BuildingBigMuscle.com
Being a hardgainer means you have extreme difficulty gaining weight, let alone muscle.You've probably suffered through ridicule from others because of your beanpole-like body, which in turn bruises your ego and self-esteem.You've probably tried relentlessly to gain muscle in the past, but to no avail.Maybe you have even gave up more than once, believing it's impossible for someone with your genetics to build lean muscle.

Well, it's not impossible.It doesn't matter how poor your genetics are, you can build muscle.

The problem is that most people don't realize that bodybuilding for hardgainers is completely different than it is for the average population.Hardgainers must follow an entirely different set of rules if they are going to be successful.

First off, avoid volume work.Do your workout routine, and get out.Weight lifting causes you to burn alot of calories, and being skinny, you cannot afford to lose many calories.

So, you need to keep your workouts short but lucrative.I suggest you do 10-12, possibly fewer sets, but make sure you are really working yourself as hard as you possibly can.

Secondly, follow a full-body program and focus only on compound lifts.This includes weight lifting exercises such as squats, bench presses, deadlifts, rows and military presses.

A very important aspect of bodybuilding for hardgainers is REST.I cannot stress this enough.You must get plenty of sleep.This is how your muscles repair themselves and grow.This is an equally important factor in the equation; just like you've performed your workouts properly, and fed your body the right foods, you must rest your body.

One final piece of advice, it would be a really good idea to find someone who once was a skinny runt like you, but defeated those hardgainer genetics, and has the buffed body to prove it, to mentor you.I'm sure he would have some great experienced advice to offer you.He would also be a great motivation for you because you will want to have a body like his, and knowing he was once like you, it will keep you focused on your goals, and keep you confident knowing that it can be done.

About the Author

If you would like to learn more about bodybuilding for hardgainers, please visit my website http://www.BuildingBigMuscle.com for more articles and training videos.

Building Self Esteem In Teens Begins At Home

Low esteem is a pervasive problem for American teenagers with all sorts of negative repercussions. Consider that a Harvard Study found that 86% of teenage girls are on a diet or believe they should be on one. A Florida State University study found that eleven-year-old boys who displayed evidence of low self-esteem were 1.6 times more likely to be dependent on drugs by age 20 than boys with high esteem. The truth is that building self esteem begins at home during early childhood, but must be consistently reinforced throughout the teenage years and into adulthood. In this article, parents will find some helpful advice on how to improve low self esteem in their teenagers.

According to the National Association for Self-Esteem: "Young children typically base their self-esteem primarily on the feedback they receive from others, with the parents exercising the greatest impact. After age 4 they begin to consider their competence at different activities. By age 7 children typically base their self-esteem on three domains: academic success, social acceptance and physical prowess. As they enter adolescence they shift from the importance of feedback from parents to feedback from peers. At this age their level of self-esteem is normally based upon six domains or contingencies: inherited endowments, social acceptance, feeling unique and worthy of respect, feeling in control of one's life, moral virtue or integrity, and one's accomplishments, including academic success. How one appears to others, athletic prowess, and popularity become particularly important at this age, though these are all external sources for self-esteem."
When building self esteem, parents must be discerning and careful about how they praise their teens. "You'll do better next time" is a toxic lie to a child who has just failed a test. In fact, it's this very lie that leads many students to cheat on tests because they haven't developed a strategy for handling failure, argues Michigan scholar Jennifer Crocker. She goes on to say that a child who does not have the opportunity to discuss mistakes can't learn from them.

From Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman's book, NurtureShock, one can deduce that parents should focus on effort, rather than achievement, when building self esteem in their children. They should understand that teenagers rate arguing with their parents more positively because it's an opportunity to come clean and stop lying. More important than praise is quality sleep, friendships, fun activities and enriching talents. Researcher Carol Dweck adds that it's important for teenagers to feel in control of their self image and work to improve self esteem too. "Emphasizing effort gives a child a variable that they can control," Dweck explains. "They come to see themselves as in control of their success. Emphasizing natural intelligence takes it out of the child's control, and it provides no good recipe for responding to a failure."

Often times, teens with low self-esteem put themselves in dangerous situations just to gain social acceptance. Parents should gently talk to their kids about learning to stop, trust their cautious intuitions and think about things. They can always try drinking or sex at later, more appropriate times, but they can't take back a regrettable action once it's been done. Teens who are building self esteem should understand that not everyone is built of moral character and that some people will use them to get them to do things -- and those "friends" are not worth the trouble. Teens should feel like their parents are approachable to come to with their problems. Impress the lesson that failure is a natural part of life that can be dealt with if we come up with better plans for self-improvement next time.

About the Author

Anybody at any age can be tormented by issues of low self esteem. Indeed, teen self esteem is a particularly serious concern. Learn more about dealing with low self esteem at our site on Building Self Esteem.

Confidence is Beautiful

"Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical."
-Sophia Loren


Confidence is beautiful!

A woman that is confident radiates strength, passion and conviction.

A confident woman is not afraid to be herself.

She knows who she is. Her values, her passions, her skills, her talents and her unique gifts.

She knows that she is beautiful just the way she is, regardless of what the media dictates.


What is your definition of beauty? Is it the typical definition? The one that society and the media has us believing?


When I began modeling at the age of 15, I defined beauty based on what others thought about me, and how many modeling jobs I would book. If I was consistently working as a model, that meant that people approved of me and that therefore I must be a beautiful person. This type of thinking is very dangerous and destructive because instead of understanding, appreciating and embracing myself and my own definition of beauty, I was placing my level of confidence and self-esteem in the hands of other people and what they thought of me.


Another way that I determined beauty was by association. I was working with very beautiful women who were recognizable and being paid a lot of money. Since they were my friends and I was spending my time in their company, I believed that I was beautiful.

I also measured my level of beauty by the men in my life. If I was attracting and dating good-looking, muscular, "hot guys" that were successful, I thought I was beautiful.


Another way was by my level of success. The more successful I became as a model, the more fashion shows I booked, the more ads I had, the more buses and billboards I was featured on, the more people recognized me. I was invited to the best parties and was VIP everywhere I wanted to go. So therefore, I must be beautiful. I had all those beautiful, successful friends and got to go to all those fabulous places that everyone wanted to go to.


The reality is that although I loved fashion and seeing the newest and latest trends in the industry, I really was not passionate about being a model. A lot of girls in the modeling industry were not the kind of people that I wanted to be associated with. My Mom always told me..."Show me who your friends are, and I'll show you who you are." Those are words I will NEVER forget. Most of the models were conceited, egotistical, self-centered and had a very unhealthy body image. The majority of them had eating disorders and/or abused drugs. I was not fulfilled being a model and most of the people I did not want to build relationships with outside of work.


My life at that time was focused on my physical appearance... my height, my weight and my hair, my skin, my clothing and if I was beautiful enough to book the next job. Nobody cared if I had a brain and having an opinion was certainly not appreciated. I remember the very last audition I went out on. I was almost 6' tall, I was 128lbs, and I was told that I needed to lose weight and lose my muscle mass. I was super athletic, loved to run and be active, yet it wasn't enough. I was too flat-chested, too muscular, and not scrawny enough to become really successful in the world of modeling.


I learned at a young age that how you feel about yourself, and how you carry yourself is ultimately more important than how you look. Many people find other qualities more important than looks. Other qualities like confidence and self-esteem. It's really important to note that external beauty has an expiration date. When we are 65 years old, we will all look the same! The most beautiful people I know are the people that are beautiful from within. They love themselves and the world around them. Confidence comes from within us, not from outside influences.


Do you carry yourself with confidence? How well you carry yourself and how confident you appear to others you are interested in will more likely determine how attractive you are and how sexy you will be perceived to be than most all other aspects of your appearance. Confidence is about being emotionally stable and centered in yourself and not being dependent on validation from others. Becoming confident can seem difficult if you aren't already confident. But confidence is a skill and just like any other skill, the more you practice it, the easier it becomes.

So, I decided that I would put my years of modeling experience to good use. I am utilizing my runway skills and teach a monthly class for women called "High Heel Appeal"... how to walk with confidence in your high heels, and I've also filmed an instructional DVD. Check out the making of the DVD and get more info here

Are you personally confident but lacking in professional confidence? Why not take what works for you in your personal life and apply it to your pursuit of success? The reverse may also be true. Do you feel like you are successful but have a lacking personal life? Confidence is universally attractive!


It is well worth your while to develop confidence in all areas of your life to reach a level of fulfillment that is as well rounded as it is significant. It starts with feeling as if you are on the right track and believing in yourself. Once this is achieved, confidence is just the expression of how you feel inside! You can do this and the results will follow!

The first thing that I needed to figure out is the danger of vanity. I had struggled with that for a long time. In the USA, $20 billion is spent annually on cosmetics; $300 million on cosmetic surgery; $33 billion on dietary products. This illustrates how much time and money we spend on our physical appearance. Vanity is not beautiful.

Related to that was my habit of comparing myself with the looks of other women. Jealousy is another problem I've had to work on. I've had to learn to be secure in who I am.


Insecurity is not beautiful. It makes it difficult to have and to be a solid friend, girlfriend or wife. You rely on others and put a lot of expectations on others to validate you and make you feel good. You need to feel good about yourself and know yourself, FIRST before you can go out there into the world, fall in love with someone else, and expect them to know who you are.


If you could use some help discovering your own inner beauty (the most important kind!) give me a call or send me an email!

About the Author

http://absoluteconfidence.com/about/suzanne-fetting

A few tips on how to improve your self esteem

Most people have gone through it at one time or another: That drop in confidence, the feeling that you do not quite measure up, or just an overall feeling that you do not have much to offer or that you are not anything special. All of these feelings are results of low self esteem, and fortunately that is something that can be changed. When you are feeling down on yourself, all you need to turn that around is a few helpful tips on how to improve your self esteem. Here are the top tips for feeling better about yourself.

Taking care of yourself is one of the best tips on to how to improve your self esteem. Many times, when people begin to feel depressed or sad they will forget to really care for themselves the way that they should. Even when you are feeling awful, if you focus on making yourself eat healthy and getting at least moderate exercise- even a short walk just to get outside- will really help your frame of mind. Never neglect your own health during this time because the way that you feel physically can directly translate to your self esteem levels.
Another excellent tip on how to improve your self esteem is to take on something new. Take a few minutes and write down a list of your life goals, and all the things that you have always wanted to do but just never quite found the time for. Perhaps you have always wanted to learn how to speak French, or you want to start doing some oil painting. Maybe you wish you could go back to college and take a few new courses. This is an excellent time to pick one of these goals and go for it. Setting yourself a new goal, even a very big one that can take years, will give you a chance to focus on something new and this will help you to take your thoughts off how you are feeling. As you begin to accomplish your goal, you will get the additional benefit of true accomplishment, which always does wonders for the self esteem.

Finally, one of the best tips for how to improve your self esteem is also the simplest: Have fun! What are those activities that you derive great enjoyment from? It does not need to be anything big, and it can be as simple as a hot bubble-bath or a movie marathon with old DVDs that you love. Pick a few of your favorite things to do and make time for them each week, and your self confidence will rise along with your spirits.

About the Author

Improve your self esteem with this fantastic new video and destroy your negative thought patterns at www.self-esteem-activation.com 

Simple Activities That Promote Self-Esteem Can Make a Huge Difference in Your Success

With all the busyness of life that confronts you on a daily basis, it is important to also make time for including activities that promote self-esteem. How you feel about yourself is crucial to achieving life satisfaction and reaching those goals that you have set in place for yourself. If you feel that you are not capable of experiencing successes, your tendency will be to limit yourself in the challenges that you accept. When this happens, your world becomes smaller and smaller and you will forgo wonderful opportunities for fear of anticipated failure. Doing small things that support and build your self-esteem can make a huge difference in your confidence level and willingness to take healthy risks.

Learning to use your time well is an important aspect of building self-confidence. When you have planned your day's activities and focused on getting what's really necessary completed or at least addressed, you will feel better about yourself and more in control of your life. Many people have found that using a daily planner helps them plan their days to be more productive. One of the simplest activities that promote self-esteem is to avoid "time-wasters" such as answering phone calls that will be merely distractions. Let the message machine work for you while you are occupied on more important tasks. To avoid offending friends and family, simply tell them that when you are working between certain hours, you will be using your machine so that you can remain focused and efficient.

No one feels good working in the midst of a chaotic environment. Your work area is too messy if you frequently need to waste time looking for things. Organizing your space is another of the activities that promote self-esteem. When you are constantly looking for mis-placed items or papers, the tendency is to feel very inept and unqualified. The easiest trick to address this issue is to simply think about what you most often misplace and choose a spot or file to which you will always return that item.

Throw away anything of no value, such as yesterday's newspaper and you will continue to feel more in control. Some people plan 10-15 minutes at the beginning or end of each work session to put everything back in place, weed out trash, and schedule the work strategy for the following day. This way you will not allow your work area to get out of control. By organizing and prioritizing both your work space and your living space, you will be completing activities that promote self-esteem. You will feel empowered to handle your daily tasks and confident that you can challenge yourself to even more difficult ones.

About the Author

Enhance your self-esteem and destroy negative thought patterns with this revolutionary video at www.self-esteem-activation.com and receive a three day mind control ecourse today.