1. Lesson 2: Developing a Positive Identity
Chapter 7
Lesson 2: Developing a Positive Identity

2. Your Personal Identity -your sense of yourself as a unique individual
Your identity is like a jigsaw puzzle:
Your interests
Your likes and dislikes
Your talents and abilities
Your values and beliefs
Your goals
What are some aspects of YOUR identity that make you unique???

3. Working Toward a Healthy Identity
Recognize Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Demonstrate Positive Values
Develop a Purpose in Life
Form Meaningful Relationships
Contribute to the Community
Avoid Unhealthy Risk Behaviors

4. Chapter 7 Lesson 3: Understanding Emotions
Emotions- signals that tell your mind and body how to react.
Emotions are often referred to as feelings.
They are the responses to certain thoughts and events.
Emotions effect everyone in different ways.

5. Different Types of Emotions

6. Some people show little to no emotions at times…this does not mean that they do not have feelings. We are all unique!

7. Chapter 7 Lesson 4: Managing Emotions
Health literate people know positive strategies for expressing needs, want, and feelings.
What are some positive strategies that you use?
*Negative ways of dealing with emotions do
nothing to solve problems! Often times they worsen the situation.
What are negative ways of dealing with emotions?

8. Responding to Your Emotions
Look below the surface: what are you really reacting to? Does the emotion match the situation?
Will the situation matter tomorrow, next week, or even in a year?
Don’t take action until you have considered the consequences of the action.
Use positive feelings to inspire yourself.
If negative feelings do not go away, seek help (friends, family, professionals)

9. Managing Difficult Emotions
Take slow, deep breaths and relax!
Get away and compose yourself.
Write in a private journal.
Play/listen to music.
Talk your feelings over with parents and friends.

10. Defense Mechanisms-mental processes that protect individuals from strong or stressful emotions and situations.
Common Defense Mechanisms:
Repression-unconsciously pushing of unpleasant feelings out of conscious thought.
Suppression- consciously pushing unwanted thoughts from one’s mind.
Rationalization-making excuses rather than taking responsibility for situation or behavior.
Regression -reverting to earlier developmental characteristics vs. handling it in a mature manor.
Denial - not acknowledging what others see as obvious.
Compensation-making up for mistakes through gift giving, hard work, or extreme efforts.
Projection-attributing your own feelings or faults to another person or group.
Idealization- seeing someone as perfect or more worthy than others.
Toughest Emotions to Handle: FEAR, GUILT, ANGER