Photo by cottonbro: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wood-nature-people-woman-5427531/
As you read this, you’re probably starting down that road of self-realization. Good job! Because the goal of self-realization is to be authentic, and that is what everyone should strive for to achieve that healthy self-esteem, especially among adolescents.
In a world where people’s perspectives are shaped and formed by what they see, hear, and read on social media, authenticity has become an urgent battle cry for survival. In today’s times, where the struggle to be recognized for one’s skill, talent and effort gets louder every minute, authenticity stands out as an essential virtue. Alfred H. Kurland’s book The Soul of Adolescence Aligns with the Heart of Democracy reflects adolescents’ identity, nature, purpose, and societal role.
At the very heart is adolescence authenticity. Adolescence is considered a crucial period in a person’s social growth. It is that link between childhood and adulthood, typically marked by physical and psychological changes. During this period, the “adolescent’s” future is usually determined; whatever they grew up to become is formed by how they were or how they handled these adolescent years.
How significant is the adolescence stage?
The adolescence stage is about the transition from being a child to an adult, as well as the transition in education, skills, employment, and other socio-development. The age of adolescence ranges from 10 to 19, according to the World Health Organization. During this phase, adolescents experience changes in their physical, cognitive, and psychosocial growth.
This crucial development stage is typically divided into three areas: early adolescence, mid-adolescence, and late adolescence. The early adolescence period, the age range between 10 and 13, is the onset of puberty. Behaviors may include deviation, mood swings, temporary disorientation or disorganization, and even insecurities. Mid-adolescence, commonly between 13 and 18 years, is marked by sexual and opposite sex awareness. Peer standards, adherence, and loyalty are very rampant at this stage.
Late adolescence, typically between 14 and 19 years, is a transition stage where the individual begins to consolidate and conform to their identity and future. They became more selective when making decisions, be it a relationship or life decisions.
Regardless of what adolescence phase an individual is in, one thing is for sure: all of the things that have a significant impact and influence on them during this time will set their view and attitude on how they will see and interact with the world outside as an adult.
Why the need for authenticity?
Studies have shown that authenticity affects an individual’s self-esteem, their overall well-being. Authenticity is the quality of being genuine, legitimate, or, yes, authentic.
What are the traits of an authentic individual?
For one thing, the person has an increased level of happiness. They are engaged and forming better and healthier relationships. They are more grounded in reality and can speak up for themselves, even under peer pressure. They’re oozing with self-confidence, self-expression, self-love, and creativity.
And if adolescents are ingrained with these qualities, they turn out to be good adults with an inclination to become more active in participating in society.
Teaching Adolescence Authenticity
There is no strict roadmap or blueprint for teaching adolescents how to reach and maximize their authentic selves. The core value of teaching adolescents should be centered around, “This is about you, not me, not them.”
So, start them young and start them right. Below are some top tips on how to build up authenticity among adolescents.
Promote Self-Expression
Do you feel the need to share your thoughts and feelings? Do you have that urge to paint, act, sing, dance, or do any skills or talents that pleases you? Then go ahead, and express yourself.
One way to instill authenticity in adolescents is to encourage them to openly and freely express themselves without fear of judgment. Self-expression helps individuals become better communicators, collaborate, participate and contribute to society. Aside from that, self-expression can also help relieve those teen-angst-related stress, decrease anxiety and depression, and promote overall healthy self-love.
Value and Respect for Individual Differences
Never make derogatory comments about any person and their status or life choices. Valuing and respecting each other’s differences means accepting people for who they are and what they are, and whether or not their opinions or perspectives align with yours.
Too often, people are being fed on social media about what beauty, talent, or status should ideally be. Authenticity is being genuine and should not be based on anyone’s standards.
Adolescents need to develop that character of accepting other people as what they indeed are. It should be taught that respect begets respect, that if they want to be respected for who they are, they need to give that respect first to others.
Encourage Honesty and Integrity
Honesty and integrity work alongside each other. Integrity is moral uprightness or doing the right things even when no one is looking—those who have integrity value honesty the most. Adolescents who practice these two traits will find they’ll attract fair and honest friends or partners later in life. People will look to them as persons who are fair, trustworthy, and, yes, authentic.
Authenticity is an invaluable trait that every adolescent should strive to develop and build up. Developing that character begins with small steps of practicing the make-up of an authentic person. These steps, as long as done consistently, will turn into a habit that eventually will become a discipline. Later, these will be so ingrained into the individual’s life that they’ll come out naturally and automatically. And it all starts with being you, the real you, having a say and a significant part in life – the essence of adolescence authenticity.
The Damsel’s Files 