Teenagers are learning how to build their own wide and varied emotional vocabulary and that’s a good thing. Having this skill places teenagers in a better position to understand and work with their emotions and feelings, not against them. An extended vocabulary supports teenagers in maintaining a more healthy and balanced perspective about themselves and it helps to lesson the mystery and heaviness associated with some emotions.
Building a rich vocabulary bank that extends beyond sad, unhappy, negative and depressed is both powerful and empowering. Selection offers choice and choice leads the way for teenagers to own their thoughts, feelings and emotions.
This is a skill I teach in coaching sessions and during presentations to students in schools and parents evening information sessions.
ROC and RISE NAME IT & CLAIM IT tool, upskills teens to build their vocabulary and become more familiar with the subtle and overt ways their emotions and feelings show up in their body and the consequences they have on their actions and behaviours.
This skill is a game-changer.
Looking beyond the basic descriptors, which I suspect have run out of steam – happy , positive and good, along with unhappy, sad and negative.
It’s time our teens delve deeper so to build their vocab in order to better connect and be more in control of their own mental, social and emotional fitness.
Beyond the basics TEEN VOCAB grows to include –
Worried
Pressured
Alone
Guilty
Fearful
Annoyed
Helpless
Cynical
Frustrated
Uptight
Lost
Lonely
Powerless
Angry
Stressed
Uneasy
Disappointed
Anxious
Embarrassed
Insecure
Unsafe
Scared
Ashamed
Unsure
Fake
Stuck
Stubborn
jealous
unsure
Overwhelmed …….the list is long.
Let’s help our teenagers become master builders of their emotional vocabulary. It’s sooo good for their mental and emotional fitness and another way they can take charge of their ROCability from the inside out.
Together we can do this 🧡
This is a vital part of a teenager’s solid and healthy transition in adulthood. It’s not instant or easy, but it paves the way to living a ROC solid life.
Have fun experimenting
R🌟resilience
O🌟optimism
C🌟confidence
This idea is shared with teens in Claire’s book ROC and RISE. Endorsed by Maggie Dent and loved by teenagers and their families worldwide.