SELF-TALK
A person makes one mistake and thinks, 'I'm such an idiot.' What is this an example of?
Harsh self-talk: judging the whole person based on one mistake.
A person constantly compares their progress with everyone else's. What can this do to their self-esteem?
It can make them feel inadequate and overlook their own progress.
“I don't need anyone's approval. I know who I am.” This person can also accept feedback without getting defensive. Is this confidence or just talk?
CONFIDENCE
Someone admits they don't know an answer and asks for help. Which does this better demonstrate: ego or confidence?
Confidence: they can acknowledge a limitation and remain willing to learn.
Name one thing a person can do when they feel discouraged after a setback.
Take a manageable next step, ask for support, reflect on what they learned, or use balanced self-talk.
Replace 'I always mess everything up' with a more balanced statemen
For example: 'I made a mistake this time, and I can learn from it.'
You finally accomplish a goal you've been working toward. Instead of feeling proud, you immediately notice someone who accomplished something bigger. Why is it so hard to feel satisfied?
You keep changing your standard of success by comparing yourself to others.
Someone believes they're talented, attractive, and capable, but assumes anyone who disagrees is simply jealous. What's the problem?
Overconfidence mixed with defensiveness
Someone dismisses every criticism because they must always be right. What might they be protecting?
Their image or sense of superiority; this is an ego-protective response.
Why is asking for help not a sign of weakness?
It can show self-awareness, responsibility, and willingness to learn.
What is the difference between taking responsibility for a mistake and attacking yourself?
Responsibility focuses on what happened and what can be changed; self-attack turns the mistake into a judgment of personal worth.
Two people see someone succeed. One thinks, “Maybe I can learn from them.” The other thinks, “Their success makes me look bad.” What's the psychological difference?
The first uses comparison for learning; the second interprets another person's success as a threat to their own worth.
A person talks constantly about their achievements but feels worthless whenever they fail at something. What is the difference between how they perform confidence and how they actually evaluate themselves?
Their self-worth depends heavily on success and achievement.
Someone is proud of their achievement and admits they still have things to learn. What does this suggest?
Healthy confidence: they can value their strengths while recognizing room to grow
Someone says yes to everything because they fear people will dislike them if they say no. What might be driving this behavior?
A need for approval or fear of rejection. Accept other reasonable explanations if defended.
Someone fails a task and concludes, 'I'll never be good at anything.' What thinking trap is happening, and how could they challenge it?
Overgeneralization. Look at the specific event, consider evidence that doesn't support the sweeping conclusion, and identify one next step.
Someone says, 'I'll feel good about myself only when I'm doing better than everyone else.' What makes this a fragile foundation for self-esteem?
Their self-worth depends on ranking above others, so someone else's success can constantly threaten it.
Someone walks into every situation convinced they'll succeed. When things go wrong, they refuse to reconsider their approach because “I know what I'm doing.” Is that confidence? Explain.
Not necessarily; it may be overconfidence.
True or false: A person who appears confident always has high self-esteem. Explain.
False. Outward confidence doesn't tell us everything about how someone evaluates themselves internally.
Someone says yes to everything because they fear people will dislike them if they say no. What might be driving this behavior?
A need for approval or fear of rejection.
Someone fails at something and says, “I'm useless. I never do anything right.” How can they take responsibility without attacking their self-worth?
Acknowledge the specific mistake, identify what they can learn, and remember that one outcome doesn't define their entire value.
Two people make the same amount of progress, but one feels proud while the other feels like a failure because someone else progressed faster. Why?
They are using different standards to evaluate themselves. The second person bases their self-evaluation on comparison rather than their own progress.
Someone walks into every room believing they are the most interesting person there. They rarely ask questions because they assume they already know what others will say. What is the difference between believing you have value and believing you have more value than everyone else?
Self-worth doesn't require superiority. Confidence recognizes your strengths without assuming other people are less valuable.
Someone claims they are completely confident but cannot tolerate criticism, admit mistakes, or ask for help. What might this tell us about the difference between appearing confident and feeling secure in oneself?
Outward confidence doesn't necessarily mean stable self-esteem. The person may be protecting their image or struggling to tolerate imperfection. We cannot know their internal experience for certain from behavior alone.
Someone makes a poor decision, loses someone's trust, and feels ashamed. What would a response based on healthy self-esteem look like without minimizing the consequences?
Acknowledge the decision and its impact, takes responsibility, works to repair the harm where possible, and recognizes that they can make better choices without defining themselves entirely by the mistake.