Build Mastery to Boost Confidence
Adolescence is a time of exploration that builds on childhood experiences. During their early years your teen learned through play, relationships, and schoolwork. As that continues, they can now build mastery that increases their self-perception and confidence. So, how can you support them with this without seeming overbearing?
Let’s look at some of the steps you can take that are enjoyable and meaningful as well as encouraging to your teen’s further development.
What Mastery Is and Why It’s Important
It’s easy for teens to feel inadequate. Social media is full of stories of adolescents who excel in school, athletics, or as social influencers. You realize that while this seems all well and good, it may not be as it appears. However, you know that your teen may take these appearances at face value. Teens often compare themselves to kids their age who seem to be superstars. When they do, confidence fades, along with enthusiasm.
Mastery is about developing skills and knowledge.
It means being proficient, capable, adept, and knowledgeable about a certain focus.
Mastery applies to a field of study, all forms of art, manual skills, athletics, cooking, business and household management, community life, and use of free time, such as being in nature.
When you get right down to it, mastery can be gained in any human endeavor by those seeking to do so!
Think of why this matters to anyone’s confidence, and especially for your teen’s self-awareness and perception.
Confidence grows over time. It is not static, as in being either you do or don’t have it.
Confidence develops with time and mindful action concentrated on an interest.
As your teen gains a sense of mastery and increased confidence with one activity, they can apply that self-learning to other interests.
Interest + Practice = Mastery & Confidence
Interest is key! It’s what beckons your teen to read, cook, play an instrument, engage in physical activity, or help out in your garden.
As your teen spends consistent time with favored activities, their mastery progressively grows.
Turns out they have an artistic flair, a green thumb, enviable skateboard ability, or an innate sense of how to solve math problems. (You think: Really? Not from me…)
When you make concrete observations about your teen’s developing mastery, it enhances their perception of self.
Confidence starts to blossom.
You can encourage your teen’s mastery by:
Paying attention to their interests and what they’re good at.
Supporting a budding interest without hovering.
Letting them know what you’re seeing in concrete terms.
“The tomato plants are so much healthier now that you’re caring for them.”
“The pictures you take have real appeal. Send me a couple of your favorites for my desktop.”
Happened to see you the other day on the court. You’ve got an eye for setting up shots!
“I heard you practicing a new song the other day. Will you record it so I can add it to my playlist? Please…”
Selecting something you’re interested in to build your own mastery. It’s never too late to give your confidence an extra boost.
At Mindful Healing we’re continually learning what families most need for supporting adolescents during this era’s challenges. Please let us know about your parenting interests so we can work together to boost your confidence as a parent.
