Minds On
Who am I?
Brainstorm
Brainstorm
For each of the following questions, reflect on and brainstorm your best ideas for what each definition, such as self-concept, means. Then you may check you answers by accessing the following accordion.
Press the following tabs to check against your brainstorming ideas.
Self-concept is how you perceive yourself and your behaviour, abilities, and unique characteristics. For example, “I am a good friend.” It is your sense of self.
A person’s self-concept, mental health, and well-being can be affected by a number of internal and external factors that work together.
Self-concept is how you perceive yourself and self-esteem is how you value yourself.
Now that you have explored these ideas, consider the following question:
Who am I?
Complete the following Identity Mind Map using any method of your choice or using the fillable map below. Begin with your name in the middle and add in what makes you, you. Consider what shapes represent you. You may consider your role in your family, your hobbies or interests, your physical characteristics, and your cultural background.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Identity Mind Map.
Action
What factors makes us, us?
As we discovered in the Minds On section, self-concept is how you perceive yourself. There are internal and external factors that make up your self-concept.
Internal factors come from within yourself. They include having a sense of purpose in life, being able to arrive at and sustain a clear sense of who you are, having a strong sense of cultural identity, feeling that you have the right – and the ability – to take steps to make things better, having clear boundaries, being optimistic, having high expectations of yourself, and having the skills you need to solve problems.
There are also external factors that impact your development. These come from outside yourself, for example, your family, friends, school, and society.
Internal and external factors shape who you are and help you understand who you are.
Complete the following activity to place the following self-concept factors into the internal factor or external factor category.
Complete the Identity Factors Chart in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Identity Factors Chart.
Press ‘Answers’ to check your work.
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Internal Factors |
External Factors |
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Being optimistic High expectations Clear boundaries Problem solving skills Cultural identity |
Friends School Family |
Sexual orientation
An important part of your self-concept is understanding your sexual orientation. Sexual orientation refers to a person’s sense of sexual attraction to people of the same or different sex. Having an understanding of your sexual orientation is an important part of developing your sense of self and well-being.
Having a positive self-concept is recognizing things about yourself that you like and knowing what makes you, you. Everyone has their own unique abilities. A positive self-concept is being aware of them and accepting them. Having a positive self-concept and resilience will help you overcome challenges, to form healthy relationships, and to be happy throughout your life.
Press ‘Definition’ to explore the concept of resilience.
Resilience: The ability to recover quickly or “bounce back” from disruptive change, illness, or misfortune without being overwhelmed or acting in dysfunctional ways. Resilient people possess the skills to cope with life’s challenges, respond to stress, and move forward.
Promoting a positive self
Some ways we can promote a positive self-concept are:
- Make a list of your positive qualities.
- Develop your strengths.
- Don’t compare yourself to others – you are unique.
- Set realistic goals.
- Say positive affirmations.
An affirmation is anything you say or think of yourself. Positive affirmations are statements that help you overcome challenges. They are an act of saying or showing something that is true. They usually start with “I” and include a positive word, for example, “I believe in myself” or “I am brave.”
What would you like to say to yourself?
Create your own positive affirmations. Using the following fillable template or any method of your choice, list at least five positive affirmations that you can use.
How can we be kinder to ourselves?
Complete the Positive Affirmations Chart in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Positive Affirmations Chart.
Consolidation
Promoting a positive self-concept
Reflect on the ways we become who we are and the ways we form a positive self-concept.
Using any method of your choice, create a poster showing different ways we can promote a positive self-concept.
Reflection
As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.