Raise a Strong, Independent
Decision-Maker

What exactly needs to be developed to become resilient?

Many agree there are different levels of resilience to be expected at different ages and even in different fields.

For example training on military resilience is very different from how we would discuss it with teens. This course will introduce concepts for variations and provide links to additional information.

For now, we are going to begin with the idea of the 7 Cs mentioned by Coach Reese. Here they are again in case you missed them: Confidence, Competence, Connection, Character, Contribution, Coping, Control.

These seven concepts really summarize where we need to focus our attention to become stronger in certain areas of our lives.

The students will be developing their personal research focusing on one or more of these areas.

You might consider researching along with them. Where do you think you might work a bit more on skills for bouncing back?

Being responsible means we act with reflection rather than impulsiveness. Responsible decision-making requires us to pause and think carefully.

It’s crucial to analyze our options by considering the personal consequences and how they will affect others. We need to keep our values in mind throughout the process to guide our choices.

A responsible decision involves choosing an option that considers not only our immediate desires but also the long-term effects on ourselves and others. It requires us to think ahead and weigh the pros and cons before acting.

For example, a responsible approach if you’re deciding whether to study for a big exam or hang out with friends would be to balance both. You might choose to study first and then hang out, ensuring you stay on track with your grades while still enjoying time with friends. It also means thinking about how your choice impacts others, such as how it affects your grades, your friendships, or your future goals.

A smart step in any decision-making process is involving a trusted adult. You can learn about these responsible decision-making qualities alongside Drew, Payton, and Jordan.

Imagine a rumor spreading at school that a classmate is moving away because of bad behavior. You can use the steps of critical thinking to figure out if it’s true. This process helps you find the real story behind what you hear.

First, clarify your purpose. Your goal is to find out the truth, so stay focused on that. Next, question your sources by asking who started the rumor and whether they’re reliable.

Then, identify the arguments people are making for or against the rumor. Gather reasons from different sources, and see if they match up. After that, analyze the background, details, and facts around the situation.

Next, judge the arguments based on their strengths and weaknesses. Look at which reasons are more convincing and why. Finally, create your own argument by using everything you’ve learned to form a reasoned conclusion.

By following these six steps, you can think critically, make smart decisions, and discover what’s really going on.

1. Self Awareness involves recognizing aspects of who you are as a person. This includes what you think and feel, how you react, and importantly, why.

2. A good practice in developing self-awareness is focusing on your thoughts. What are you thinking? When do you have certain thoughts? Why do you have these thoughts? Are they productive or harmful?

3. We will begin with thinking about thinking. Our brains are the greatest supercomputers ever created. We have so many thoughts and we process them so quickly we are often unaware of their existence.

4. By learning to think about thinking we begin to focus on our thought life, which ultimately becomes our real life.