Getting Focused
One of the best ways to start succeeding is to focus on what you
like about yourself. Think about what you do well. Use what you
do well to help you with what you find hard to do. Here are twelve
areas that you could focus on developing:
A Healthy Body
Having a good start in life: eating well, cleaning your home, avoiding
drugs, alcohol and weapons, and going to the doctor and to the dentist
for check-ups
Support
Asking for support, love, and safety from parents, family members,
neighbors, and other adults
Boundaries and Expectations
Accepting rules and consequences and having high expectations of
yourself and other people in your life
Empowerment
Doing an activity that you value and that helps your community,
such as cleaning up the park or organizing soccer games for anyone
who wants to play, and telling other people your thoughts about
decisions that will affect your life, such as going to IEP meetings
to talk about your aspirations
Commitment to Learning
Motivating yourself to learn from school, accomplishing challenges,
and working on reading and math skills
Positive Identity
Valuing yourself, believing in yourself, learning what is important
to you, and looking forward to planning your future
Social Competence
Learning to understand and sympathize with other people, becoming
aware of other people's feelings and needs, and thinking for yourself,
as well as working with other people as a team and settling conflicts
by talking instead of fighting
Positive Values
Knowing what you value, such as honesty, respect, life and trust,
and having the courage to act on them
Cultural Competence
Learning to be a part of different communities and to celebrate
and respect your culture and different cultures
Personal Responsibility and Restraint
Learning respect for the law, learning to calm yourself down and
think before you act
Constructive Use of Time
Doing art projects, playing sports, and learning about spirituality
Moving Toward Economic Independence
Learning about different jobs and asking for help when you are choosing
how to spend your money
This information was taken from Twelve
Building Blocks, courtesy of Indiana Youth Institute
(http://www.iyi.org/).
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