What makes you different from your friends? You may have a special talent like dancing or painting, whereas your friends may be good at singing, sculpting or acting, which might not be your greatest strengths. Like your talents, your personality and interests will also differ from those of your friends. Every child is a unique combination of their values, morals, learnings, strengths, weaknesses, personality characteristics, dreams and passions. These unique elements blend to form a wonderful mosaic that is ‘YOU’. You are a unique individual.
In a world with millions of people, your distinguishing attributes and the values you uphold make you special. Embracing your individuality is important for your well-being and growth. Accepting and being proud of your differences is what sets you apart.
An important tool that can help you on your journey of self-development is self-awareness. Self-awareness involves understanding your own thought process, feelings, behaviours, strengths and weaknesses. Knowing yourself better will help you enhance your strengths and work on your shortcomings. It will help you express yourself better, make better decisions and overcome life’s hurdles.
Here are a few ways you can develop self-awareness:
- Maintain a journal to record the happenings in your daily life and the feelings associated with these events. This will help you understand what excites you and what dims your spark.
- Identify and write down your hobbies and the things you are good at. Also, list the things about yourself you would like to work on or improve.
- Talk to a parent or trusted adult about your emotions and dreams. This will enable them to guide you.
- Set small goals for yourself and reflect on the progress you make regularly.
Always remember to celebrate your uniqueness because there is no one like ‘YOU’!
REFLECTION: A Unique Individual
List any 5 characteristics you possess that make you different from your friends.
