Evaluate His/Her Own Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors (Why and How)

It is important for an adolescent to learn to evaluate his/her own thoughts, feelings and behaviors. This article teaches the need to do it.

 

For a Tagalog discussion on this topic, read Mga Saloobin, Damdamin, at Pag-uugali: Isang Aktibidad (Class Activity) and Ang Aking Pagkaunawa sa Aking Iniisip, Nadarama, at Ikinikilos: Halimbawang Aktibidad

A good sign that a teenager is soundly passing through the stage of adolescence is if he/she learns to evaluate his/her own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Adolescents must make effort to know the meaning of these concepts.

 

Teenagers must understand that thought, feeling, and behavior are different yet interrelated and connected concepts. These three considerably affect them so they must understand that it is necessary to evaluate them.

In his lecture, Filipino professor and textbook author Jensen DG. Mañebog gives some reasons why there is a need for a person—especially adolescents—to have an evaluation of his or her thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

 

May this encourage you, adolescents, to have constant assessment of your respective thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

 

A person’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior are interconnected and interrelated. In fact, they influence and affect each other. Hence, to regularly evaluate one’s thoughts, for instance, is in a way assessing also one’s feelings and behaviors.

 

Experientially, most negative feelings and behaviors are generated by negative thoughts. The thought or belief, for example, that a certain person (e.g. a classmate or a teacher) does not like you may produce in you adverse feelings and hostile behaviors toward that person.

 

Prof. Mañebog explains that teenagers will benefit much from the practice of evaluating one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. During adolescence, there are rapid changes and shifts in the person’s feelings, moods, and behaviors, hence the need to constantly check them.

 

Usually, teenagers are also self-conscious and sensitive individuals. They are easily affected by criticisms and by what other people say about them. They wish to always look good to other people and this makes them worry about their imperfections, such as obesity and skin disorders. They tend to compare themselves to their fellow adolescents.

 

The behavior of teenagers is also characterized by self-centeredness, narcissism or self-love, and paranoia. Adolescents think that other people’s attention is constantly centered on their actions and appearance.

 

Occasionally, adolescents also think that they are not loved and cared for by their parents, perhaps due to conflicts with their families. Some of them have thoughts of being invincible, that nothing bad will happen to them no matter what they do. Therefore, some engage in risky behaviors such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

 

These discussed features of adolescents explain the need for them to do self-evaluation. Making it a habit to assess one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors will give them the opportunity to appraise the truth or validity of their respective beliefs, the appropriateness of their feelings and emotions, and the decency of their actions and behaviors.

 

Teenagers must understand that they always have a choice on how they will look at things. The people around them do not necessarily cause their feelings; they are the ones responsible for them.

 

As human persons, we have a choice; we have control over our feelings in the same way we have control over other choices in our lives. Negative thoughts, counterproductive feelings, and self-destructive behaviors should not enslave us.

 

Adolescents must remember that they have the power to get rid themselves of harmful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors … continue reading

 

But what exactly are thoughts? What are feelings? What are behaviors? For answers to these, read: Evaluate His/Her Own Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors (A Learning Competency)

 

 

Note: Teachers may share this as a reading assignment of their students. For other free lectures like this (especially for students), visit Homepage: Personal Development

 

*Free lectures on the subject Pansariling Kaunlaran

 

Read also: The Colorful Love Affairs of Dr. Jose Rizal by Jensen DG. Mañebog

 

 

Also read: The Interesting Tales of the Jose Rizal Family by Jensen DG. Mañebog