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Confidence in teens can help them feel safe, grounded, and motivated, and help them make better decisions. If your teen is confident, they are likely to be more assertive and engaged, and may have healthier relationships or perform well in school.
Low self-esteem, or teens with little confidence, might be more likely to socially withdraw from others, question themselves or their choices, and struggle with perfectionism or anxiety. Building your teen’s confidence is an essential part of healthy development, as it can foster resilience and self-compassion.
An easy, helpful, and effective way, to help your teen build confidence, and clinically supported by neuroscience, is to encourage them to use positive affirmations. These are phrases, mantras, or quotes, such as “I believe in myself regardless of my flaws,” that, with practice and repetition, can boost teens’ self-esteem and shift their mindset.
What is Confidence?
Confidence is the ability to believe in yourself and trust your judgement, and is directly related to having good self-esteem. Self-esteem is how we value and feel about ourselves.
This guides things like self-worth, self-respect, and can set foundations for our relationships, as how we treat ourselves often teaches others how to treat us [1].
Examples of Confidence in Teens
Signs your teen has strong self-esteem and is confident in themselves include:
- Can recognize and appreciate their strengths
- Believes that they matter
- Can handle criticism, rejection, or challenges that arise
- Are proud of their achievements
- Have a positive body image
- Have a kind inner voice even during moments of stress or challenge
Why is Being Confident Important for Teens?
Being confident and having positive self-esteem are important for teens in a formative period of development. Confidence helps teens feel more ready for the challenges and experiences of life to come. It encourages them to take healthy risks and opportunities rather than shy away.
When teens struggle with confidence and low self-esteem, they are less likely to try new things, connect with peers, or make decisions. Teens who have low self-esteem are also at a higher risk of developing mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, or eating disorders [2].
What Are Positive Affirmations?
Affirmations are phrases or quotes you can say to yourself to challenge negative self-talk and overwhelming thoughts. For some, affirmation work can be through repeated mantras and meditation, for others, bible verses or scripture are used.
People often use positive affirmations to help shift their mindset, find peace or faith during moments of uncertainty, and feel motivated.
How Do Positive Affirmations Build Confidence?
When we are praised for our skills and capabilities, it helps our brains begin to believe these good things. Over time, repeated affirmations can shift our perspective. Positive affirmations build confidence by [3]:
- Rewiring the brain. Repeated affirmations can create new neural pathways and strengthen connections for positive thoughts.
- Resilience. Affirmations help you focus on positive thoughts, even during moments of uncertainty or challenge, to create a more resilient mindset that makes it easier to overcome setbacks.
- Lower Anxiety: Poor confidence can increase anxiety in teens, and positive affirmations can help calm the mind and improve overall emotional well-being.
- Self-Acceptance: Positive affirmations don’t mean viewing oneself as perfect, but instead accepting flaws along with strengths.
The Science Behind Affirmations
Positive affirmations are supported by neuroscience research, which shows they can activate the brain’s reward centers, increasing feelings of self-worth and motivation.
One study found that self-affirmations activated the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. This region helps teens focus on self-related processing and on positive valuation (e.g., sources of positive value). This has been shown to increase feelings of self-worth and resilience [3].
Affirmations have also been linked to reduced stress levels and improved problem-solving abilities under stress or pressure. Regular self-affirmations have been found to improve academic performance in teens.
10 Positive Affirmations to Boost Confidence in Teens
For best results, encourage your teen to say a few positive affirmations of their choice, a few times out loud in a calm and clear voice, once or twice a day. It’s best to do your affirmations in the morning to set the tone for the day, and before bed when the brain is winding down. Remember, consistency is more important than anything.
Below are 10 simple affirmations to help improve your teen’s self-esteem and help them feel grounded, motivated, and confident.
- I don’t need to be perfect to be valued.
- I deserve kindness from myself and others.
- My feelings, voice, and choice matter.
- I am learning who I am and am proud of my progress.
- Making a mistake doesn’t make me a failure, but allows me to learn.
- I am enough exactly as I am.
- I can handle challenges, even if I need support along the way.
- My thoughts are not facts; I am allowed to question them.
- I deserve respect and am allowed to set boundaries.
- I am moving at my own pace, and that’s okay.
Building Confidence in Teens at Clearfork Academy
Clearfork Academy is a network of behavioral health facilities in Texas committed to helping teens recover from substance abuse disorders and co-occurring mental health challenges. We also provide education to families and communities to support the growth and development of teens.
Our family and teen support services help your youth build confidence, improve their self-esteem, and contribute to their positive growth and development. Through therapy, skill-building workshops, and educational events for parents and caregivers, we can help you strengthen relationships with your youth to foster their success and emotional well-being.
Contact us and discover how Clearfork Academy can support your teen today.
Sources
[1] Confidence. Psychology Today.
[2] Stenseng, F. (2017). The role of self-esteem in the development of psychiatric problems: a three-year prospective study in a clinical sample of adolescents. Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 11, 68.
[3] Falk, B. et al. (2016). Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation. Social cognitive and affective neuroscience, 11(4), 621–629.
Austin Davis, LPC-S
Founder & CEO
Originally from the Saginaw, Eagle Mountain area, Austin Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry from Lee University in Cleveland, TN and a Master of Arts in Counseling from The Church of God Theological Seminary. He then went on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in the State of Texas. Austin’s professional history includes both local church ministry and clinical counseling. At a young age, he began serving youth at the local church in various capacities which led to clinical training and education. Austin gained a vast knowledge of mental health disorders while working in state and public mental health hospitals. This is where he was exposed to almost every type of diagnosis and carries this experience into the daily treatment.
Austin’s longtime passion is Clearfork Academy, a christ-centered residential facility focused on mental health and substance abuse. He finds joy and fulfillment working with “difficult” clients that challenge his heart and clinical skill set. It is his hope and desire that each resident that passes through Clearfork Academy will be one step closer to their created design. Austin’s greatest pleasures in life are being a husband to his wife, and a father to his growing children. He serves at his local church by playing guitar, speaking and helping with tech arts. Austin also enjoys being physically active, reading, woodworking, and music.
