Self-Esteem Exercise: Appreciate What You Have

Self-Esteem Exercise: Appreciate What You Have


Purpose

This thought-provoking exercise helps delegates appreciate what they already have. Most people, in their quest to achieve more experience more and possess more forget what they have already achieved. The quest and the focus on future is indeed a good thing and must be safeguarded. However, appreciation helps to increase self-esteem and make a person feel that he is experiencing a fulfilling life. The boost in energy can in turn help people carry on better with their quests, achieve more and ultimately become happier.

Objective

Think of what you have achieved in life so far and list them.

What You Need

  • Papers
  • Blue and red pens

Setup

  • This exercise has two parts.

Part 1:

  • Ask delegates to consider their achievements, possessions and accomplishments. Ask them to write a list or capture them in a mind map. If delegates are not familiar with mind maps, consider teaching them about this useful technique before this exercise.
  • Ask delegates to write as fast as they can as soon as ideas come to their minds. The aim is for them to capture whatever they have already in mind rather than thinking hard to find them.
  • For this part, instruct delegates to write with blue pens.
  • Explain that they don’t have to share anything they don’t want to with other. They should be honest with themselves as they go through the exercise.
  • Allocate 3 minutes for this part.

Part 2:

  • Ask delegates to share what they have captured with others and explain what they appreciate. Again, they are free to share what they like. The purpose here is to inspire others on ideas.
  • Allocate 5 minutes for this part.
  • Now, ask delegates to refer back to their lists or mind maps and add more ideas on what they appreciate or have achieved. This is their second chance to record what they might have missed in part 1.
  • Ask delegates to write these additional items with red pens.
  • Allocate 3 minutes for this part.
  • Now, ask delegates to look at their lists and focus on those in red which have just been added. Why did they miss them in the first round? Does this suggest that they might not be as appreciative for these areas as they should be? Why have they considered certain areas first (blue) instead of areas they considered later (red)?
  • Encourage a discussion on what this suggests.

Timing

Explaining the Exercise: 2 minutes

Activity: 3 min part 1 + 5 min sharing in part 2 + 3 min adding more ideas = 11 minutes

Group Feedback: 10 minutes

Discussion

How do you feel having gone through this exercise? Has it made you think about areas that you have not considered for a while? Has the appreciation of your past achievements, accomplishments and luck made you more confident? What do you think about those areas that you missed? Did others help reminding you that you also have these possessions and achievements? What do you plan to do in the future so that you don’t forget to appreciate what you already have?

“Luck is believing you’re lucky.”

Tennessee Williams

Leave a comment

All comments are moderated before being published.

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.



The Most Similar Exercises & Articles to this in Order of Similarity Are:

Goal Setting Exercise: I Want to Be – I Want to Do
Invisible Workload Exposure for Team Dynamics
The Strangest Secret: Progressive Realisation of a Worthy Ideal
Envy Self-Reflection Exercise
Goal Setting Exercise: Role Models
Self-Esteem Exercise: Turn Negative to Positive

Training Resources for You

Course Design Strategy

Course Design Strategy

Available as paperback and ebook

Training Resources

Free Training Resources

Download a free comprehensive training package including training guidelines, soft skills training activities, assessment forms and useful training resources that you can use to enhance your courses.

Body Language Guide

Our Comprehensive Guide to Body Language

Train the Trainer Guides

Train the Trainer Resources

Get Insights - Read Guides and Books - Attend Courses

Training Materials

Get downloadable training materials on: Management Training, Personal Development, Interpersonal Development, Human Resources, and Sales & Marketing

Browse Full Product Catalogue About Training Materials