What is Self-Esteem?
Self-Esteem is something that you have. Having self-esteem. Having self-esteem means you understand your value, what makes you special, and important. It just means that you like yourself.
You might like that you’re kind or generous, or really driven and work super hard, or you’re very enthusiastic, or you can be patient. There’s lots of things to like about yourself. You might notice these things about yourself when you receive a compliment from someone pointing it out or when you do something you’re really proud of.
When you notice these things, how do you feel? You feel like you matter, you feel really happy. That’s self-esteem.
“How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.” – Rupi Kaur
Self-Esteem is Important
It’s important to have high self-esteem for a lot of reasons. You are you. You are unique, you are powerful, you are confident. When you have hight self-esteem you’re going to be happier, you’re going to believe in yourself, and that way you can face challenges head on.
Music Can Help Your Self-Esteem
Music is a great way to build your self-esteem. Playing instruments or singing can help you grow your confidence. I know I feel most proud of myself when I’ve been able to work through something difficult, like, you know, practicing scales. I might feel frustrated and think negative thoughts to myself like, “Ughh I’m so bad at playing piano.” but with the support of my teachers, and my parents, and most importantly my own determination, I learn that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. Even learning an F Major scale.
Knowing that I can persevere through challenging situations raises my self-esteem. Next time I’m doing something difficult, I can think back to my past experiences and say, “Ok, I’ve learned something difficult before and I can, and I will, do it again.”
Performing Builds Self-Esteem
Another way that music helps boost my self-esteem is giving me the opportunity to perform. When I play something I’ve worked really hard on for my friends and my family, they all applaud me and recognize the hard work I’ve done. This makes me feel happy, confident, and proud of everything that I’ve accomplished.
This week, talk with your teachers about what you like about yourself or what makes you feel confident. We want to celebrate what is special about you!
The Little School of Music Leadership Program introduces monthly principles to enhance the life lessons, leadership skills, and character development experienced in music education. This is at the core of our program as we use music and learning to play an instrument as the tool. Each month a short introductory video on the monthly leadership principle will be shared with parents, students, and teachers to watch at home. We encourage students to extend what they learn to other parts of their life including at school, at home, and especially among their peers.
Downloads
DOWNLOAD: Self-Esteem Coloring Page 1
DOWNLOAD: Self-Esteem Coloring Page 2