NAVIGATING LIFE:
SELF-
ACCEPTANCE,
EMOTIONS, AND
LIFE SKILLS
◦Life Skills in the Different
Domain
◦Group 1 Academic
◦Group 2 Career & Vocation
◦Group 3 Digital
◦Group 4: Personal & Social
Scenario 1: Struggling
with Grades
Riza studied all night for her math test, but
when she got it back, she failed. She told
herself, this is the end of my aspiration to be
an honor student! She failed by one point.
1. Will Riza’s dream of becoming an honor
student come to an end? Why?
2. What unhelpful thinking can be seen in this
scenario?
3. What coping thoughts can Riza have?
4. If you were Riza’s friend, what advice would
you give her?
Scenario 2: Feeling
Lost About the Future
Kathryn trained her best to get into her dream
university. However, as she got the results of
her examination, she got rejected. She also
got rejected in three more universities of her
choice. She passed the examination of a
university that she did not like, but got a
scholarship with stipend. She felt that she was
a failure because of this?
1. How would you feel if you were Kathryn?
2. If you were Kathryn, what good things
would you think about at the university that
you passed the entrance exam? Is she really a
failure? Why?
Scenario 3: Your Life
Online
Joseph always rants about his teachers and
classmates on social media. He got angry with
his teachers and classmates because he got
corrected with his spelling errors in a group
activity. He posted a long rant on social media
telling that his teacher and classmates are
very unkind and impolite that he was
corrected. He even posted curse words on the
class picture that he uploaded without
permission.
1. How do you feel when someone tells you
that you made a mistake?
2. Is it okay to make mistakes sometimes?
Why?
3. What can we learn when others correct us
kindly?
Scenario 4: Embracing
What Matters
Maria often felt insecure about her
appearance and avoided social gatherings
because she feared judgment. One day, at a
friend's birthday party, she overheard her
friends talking about how much they admired
her kindness. This made Maria realize that her
value WORTH wasn’t just about how she
looked, it was more than just a pretty face.
1. Why did Maria feel insecure?
2. What realizations did Maria have when she
overheard people admiring her kindness?
3. If you were Maria’s friend, what advice
would you give her?
Reaction Tree
Instruction:
Think about this situation: Your most important person in your life is moving away to
another country without you.
a. Fill in the LEAVES: What they did in that situation
b. Fill in the BRANCHES: What emotion was behind that behavior
c. Fill in the ROOTS: What life factors might have caused that emotion?
After completing your tree, reflect on:
• Which reactions were helpful or unhelpful?
• What can you do next time to handle a similar situation with more self-awareness?
◦ SELF ACCEPTANCE - involves embracing all
aspects of oneself, including emotions, strengths,
weaknesses, and mistakes. In decision-making, it
enables individuals to make choices with
confidence and clarity, free from the influence of
negative emotions like self-doubt or fear of
judgment. This can be a life long process for
some. Some people can easily accept they are
and some cannot. We all have different
experiences and we cannot judge people who
have difficulties in accepting who they are
because of many reasons such as traumatic
experiences, being constantly compared, and
hearing negative feedback.
◦ By accepting themselves, people can evaluate
situations more calmly, make thoughtful
decisions aligned with their values, and respond
to challenges without being overly influenced by
external pressures or emotional reactions.
◦ Self-improvement focuses on making changes or
developing new skills, while self-acceptance
involves appreciating who you are in the present
moment.
◦ You can always improve, but it’s crucial to accept
yourself as you are while working toward
improvement
The Importance of Self-
Acceptance
• Why Self-Acceptance
Matters - It’s the • Growth mindset -
foundation of mental Acceptance doesn’t mean
health and well-being. “staying the same”—it
When we accept ourselves, means recognizing that
we are less likely to fall you are worthy of love,
into unhealthy respect, and growth, no
comparisons or self- matter where you start.
criticism.
◦ EMOTIONS AND DECISION-MAKING
◦ Emotions often drive immediate reactions. For example,
feeling nervous before a presentation might cause
someone to procrastinate or perform poorly.
◦ On the other hand, feeling confident might lead to
taking more risks and making better decisions.
◦ Our environment plays a significant role in shaping our
emotions and decisions. The home environment can
influence our emotional well-being, while school
environments can impact our academic behavior and
performance.
◦ Social media and peer pressure can alter how we
respond to challenges.
Interplay Of Thoughts Emotions, Behavior and
Bodily Response
Short Story: POWER PLAY
During PE class, Jerrom was excited to play basketball,
but as the game began, he felt a rush of nervousness.
His teammates were counting on him, and the pressure
to perform well in front of his classmates made his
heart race. His emotions, filled with doubt and fear of
making a mistake, made him hesitate every time he
got the ball.
The gym environment wasn’t helping either. The loud
noise from his peers cheering and the coach's
instructions in the background only made him feel more
POWER anxious. He kept thinking, What if I mess up? What if
they laugh at me?
PLAY
But then, Jerrom remembered something his coach had
told him during practice: "Self-acceptance is key. It's
okay to make mistakes. What matters is how you
bounce back." Taking a deep breath, Alex decided to
focus on playing his best, regardless of the pressure.
As the game continued, he missed a few shots but
quickly let go of his mistakes. The more he accepted
his nerves and the environment around him, the better
he played. By the end of the game, he wasn’t just
proud of his shots, but of how he handled his emotions
and the loud, distracting gym environment.
In the end, Jerrom realized that accepting himself, even
with his nervousness, helped him make better
decisions on the court and enjoy the game more.
◦Based from the example above, fill the box using the
short story “Power Play”.
◦ Waves of Emotion,
Winds of Decision
◦ Video Link: Disney-
Pixar 'PIPER'
◦ https://
[Link]/
watch?
v=WIPV1iwzrzg
◦ Processing
Questions:
◦ • What emotions
did Piper
experience...
◦ • What helped Piper
overcome fear and
try again?
Quotable Quotes
Instruction
1. Find quotes that inspire
positive emotions and
optimism.
2. Choose quotes that you
can turn to when you're
feeling sad or discouraged
—they should lift your
spirits and remind you of
your strength and worth.
◦True or False
◦Instructions:
◦Read each statement
carefully...
1. Self-acceptance means embracing all aspects of
yourself, including your mistakes and weaknesses.
True. False
2. Emotions always have a negative effect on our
decision-making.
True False
3. Self-improvement is more important than self-
acceptance for personal growth.
True. False
4. Your environment, like your friends or family, can
influence your emotions and decisions.
True False
5. Accepting yourself as you are right now can lead to
a healthier mindset and better relationships with
others.
6. Social media has no effect on how we feel about
ourselves or make decisions.
True. False
7. It’s easier to make decisions when you are aware of
your emotions and how they affect your choices.
True False
8. Feeling nervous or anxious before an event, like a
presentation, can negatively influence your
performance.
True. False
9. When you accept yourself, it’s easier to accept
others and build better relationships.
True False
10. Emotions, such as fear or anger, never have a
positive influence on decision-making.
◦ Instructions
◦ Write a short reflection on your experiences in life in 1 to 2
pages of text.
◦ Identify challenges that you have overcome.
◦ Identify significant people who have served as your support.
◦ Identify your achievements
◦ Describe how your experiences and achievements will help
you plan for your future career.
Questions to Guide Reflection:
◦ What are some successes you have experienced as an
adolescent?
◦ How did these successes influence you today?
◦ How would you describe your sense of self today compared
to your adolescent years?
◦ What strategies will you implement to further improve