The Four Threats to a Teen's Career Future: #2 The Comparison Trap
Jay DuSold, M.Div
AUTHOR | SPEAKER | CONSULTANT I guide young people to True Job Fits through virtual coaching and help schools/organizations improve their career guidance initiatives through student talks, PD workshops, and consulting.
Like everyone else who works with emerging young adults, I’m alarmed at how much time young people spend in front of screens.
One of the things that makes me most concerned is how constant exposure to the curated “best moments” from other people’s lives makes it highly likely that they'll fall into the comparison trap!
This often leaves young people feeling inadequate, incapable, and insignificant.
Those three "ins" are pretty powerful and do a lot of damage to self-esteem. It’s no wonder young people are increasingly suffering in their mental and emotional health and failing to reach their full potential.
There are two simple things you can do to help young people avoid the comparison trap.
Put The U Back in Success
First, you can encourage them to put the “u” back in success and constantly remind them that... "True success is U making the most of what U have been given.”
Help them understand that they may not have the abilities, personalities, resources, or opportunities that the people they’re focusing on have. They should put their time and energy into developing themselves instead of giving it to complete strangers.
Teach Them The Self-Comparison Technique (SCT)
Second, you can introduce young people to the Self-Comparison Technique, which is super healthy and productive!
It's built on the concept that there are three 'versions' of themselves….their past self, present self, and potential self.
The technique involves comparing their present self to their past self to identify ways they’ve matured and improved. This gives them reasons to feel good about themselves and celebrate.
It also involves comparing their present self to their potential self to identify ways they can grow in character, knowledge, and skills. This gives them areas to develop so they can reach their full potential.
Constantly reminding them about true success and self-comparison is a simple, practical way to help young people combat the ever-present threat of the comparison trap!
TAKE ACTION
Introduce the young people in your universe to SCT and ask them if they'd like to do some reflective activities. Guide them through the process of self-comparison so they can identify things to celebrate and things they can work on. Encourage them to make this a frequent activity they do on their own.
START A CONVO
Use these prompts to start a conversation on this topic.
ADD YOUR VOICE
I’d love to know how you help young people avoid the comparison trap. Let me know in the comments!
领英推荐
IN THE NEXT ISSUE
In the next issue, I’ll discuss the three forces that pressure young people into career paths they have no business being on.
Thanks for reading this GHA (Genuine Human Artifact)!
All the best,
Jay
PS > Did you miss part one? No worries . . . I got you:
Threat 1: A Misplaced Focus
I’ve spent over three decades working with young people and parents as a mentor and life coach. I started focusing exclusively on career guidance in 2014 after helping my son figure out career direction while he was a junior in high school.
As a next-gen career guide, I help teens and young 20s around the world identify a job fit to gain clarity and confidence about career direction so they’ll reach their full potential and avoid the waste of getting it wrong.
As a speaker, I encourage and equip young people to think differently about their identity, true success, and figuring out where they can be awesome in the world of work.
As an educator, I empower youth advocates and organizations to more effectively help the young people they serve in the area of career guidance
Do you work with teens/young 20s?
You’re my people.
Send a connection request or book a Zoom Chat!
Life After 12th Resources
.
.
.
#careerguidance #highschool #gapyear #graduates #college #parenting #LifeAfter12th #homeschool #careerreadiness #careerexploration #careereducation #careerlearning #careerdevelopment