Self-Esteem Envelopes

Due Date: ________________________

Step 1: Prepare an envelope. Write your name on both sides, and decorate the envelope with drawings, clip art or photographs that you feel represent who you are as a person.

Step 2: Tack your envelope on the hallway bulletin board by Friday, January 24, 2003. Make sure that the open side is facing outwards.

Step 3: Over the next four weeks, put a message in everybody else’s envelope. These messages can be just a few words, or they can be longer. You can write your messages or type them if you don’t want anybody to recognize your handwriting. The messages you put in others’ envelopes must be positive and encouraging. This activity is like a gift exchange with a twist. We are giving the gift of encouragement.

Step 4: Think carefully about what you want to say about each person. Every human being has faults and good points. This mixture of traits is part of what it is to be human. Most people hear hundreds of comments about their bad points, but they rarely hear about their good points. Do not focus on faults. Think of at least one good point for every person at the learning centre. Write down these good points, and put them into the other people’s envelopes.

Step 5: Go through the following list, and make sure to write something for each person on the list.

Step 6: On Valentine’s Day, we will open our own envelopes and see our good points, as others see them. This will be a healing exercise for all of us. Your self-esteem envelopes will become precious keepsakes that will encourage you in the future.

Class List

List all the learners and staff by name. It helps the learners to be able to check off whom they have written a message for.

In the next four weeks, place a positive encouraging message in the envelope of each of these people.