Life Skill Development

MODULE I INTRODUCTION TO LIFESKILL

Introduction to Life Skills

Life skills are crucial soft skills for personal and professional success.
They involve goal setting, decision-making, problem-solving, and time
management.
Mastering life skills improves communication and interpersonal relationships at
work, with family, and friends.
Life skills can be learned informally in families, communities, workplaces, and through
the media.
Definition of Life skills
Life skills have various interpretations and lack a universally accepted definition.
The International Bureau of Education identifies life skills as personal and social skills
essential for individual functioning, based on four pillars of learning- -learning to
know, to do, to be and to live together
UNICEF defines life skills as “a behaviour change or behaviour development approach
designed to address a balance of three areas: KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, and
SKILLS”.
World Health Organization’s Department of mental health defined life skills education as
designed to facilitate the practice and reinforcement of psychosocial skills in a
culturally and developmentally appropriate way. It contributes to the promotion of
personal and social development.
Components of life skills
Learning to Know- Cognitive abilities
Decision making/problem-solving skills
Information gathering skills
Evaluating future consequences of present actions for self and others
Determining alternative solutions to problems
Critical thinking skills
Analyzing peer and media influences
Analyzing attitudes, values, social norms and beliefs and factors affecting these
Identifying relevant information and information sources
 Learning to Be- Personal abilities
Skills for increasing internal locus of control
Self-esteem/confidence building skills
Self-awareness skills
Goal setting skills
Self-evaluation
Skills for managing feelings
Anger management
Dealing with grief and anxiety
Coping skills for dealing with loss, abuse, trauma
Skills for managing stress
Time management
Positive thinking
Relaxation technique
Learning to Live Together
communication skills
Verbal/Non-verbal communication
Active listening
Expressing feelings; give feedback (without blaming) and receiving feedback
Negotiation/refusal skills
Negotiation and conflict management
Assertiveness skills
Refusal skills
Empathy
Ability to listen and understand another’s needs and circumstances and express that
understanding of
Cooperation and teamwork
Expressing respect for others contributions
Assessing one’s own abilities and contributions to the group
Advocacy skills
Influencing skills and persuasion
Networking and motivation skills.
Need for Life skill training
 Life skills are essential for professional success.
They set you apart in the competitive corporate world.
Greater life skills lead to faster career growth.
In a new employee batch, everyone starts equally qualified.
Differentiation occurs based on both work and intangible life skills.
Academic knowledge alone is not enough to excel.
An attractive personality is crucial to be part of the working community or academic
circles.
Core life skills- The Ten core Life Skills as laid down by WHO
The ten core life skill strategies and techniques as problem-solving, critical thinking,
effective communication skills, decision-making, creative thinking, interpersonal
relationship skills, self-awareness building skills, empathy, and coping with stress
and emotions
(WHO) categorizes life skills into the following three components
Critical thinking skills/Decision making skills
Critical thinking:
Analyzes events and situations
Evaluates influences on thoughts and actions
Assesses information and source authenticity
Decision-making:
Defines life goals
Gathers information on issues
Evaluates future consequences
Finds alternate solutions
Skills required:
Analyzing future consequences
Determining alternative solutions
Analyzing personal values and others' values

Interpersonal/Communication skills
These skills form the foundation for adult social behavior and the acceptance of social norms.
It enhances verbal and non-verbal skills, improving listening and self-expression.
It leads to more effective face-to-face interactions.
Communication skills are acquired from birth but may require extra effort for some.
Negotiation/refusal and assertiveness skills impact conflict management.
Empathy, understanding others' needs, is a key interpersonal skill.
Teamwork and cooperation involve expressing respect for others.
Developing these skills helps adolescents be accepted in society.
 Coping and self-management skills
Skills for increasing internal control focus
Self-esteem, self-awareness, self-evaluation, and goal-setting
Dealing with emotions like anger, grief, and anxiety
Coping with loss and trauma
Stress and time management
Positive thinking and relaxation techniques

Life skills for self-management

Self-management skills allow people to control and regulate their
emotions, thoughts and behaviour effectively in different situations.
People with strong self-management skills can set independent goals and
do everything possible to achieve them.
Advantages
Make us more organised
Boost confidence as things are in our control
Increase accountability and responsibility
Prepares to face any situation in the workplace
Help to set goals and prioritise things to achieve the best possible
results
Self-Esteem
Meaning
The term self-esteem comes from the Greek word meaning “reverence for self.”
The esteem part of self-esteem describes the values and worth that one gives
oneself
In simple terms, self-esteem is the acceptance of ourselves for who and what we
are at any given time in our lives.
Webster’s Dictionary defined self-esteem as “A confidence and satisfaction in
oneself.”
In Psychology, the term self-esteem is used to describe a person’s overall sense of
self-worth or personal value
Definition
According to Nathaniel Branden, Self-esteem is confidence in our ability to think, to
cope with the basic challenges of life and confidence in our right to be successful
and happy.
 In the words of Connie Paladino, Self-esteem is a state of mind. It is the way you feel
and think about yourself and others, and is measured by the way you act.
High Self esteem
They feel they are important, that they matter.
They act independently and are not easily influenced by others.
They acknowledge their abilities and talents and are proud of what they do.
They express many types of emotions and feelings.
They have a high tolerance for frustration.
They exhibit emotional self-control.
They feel connected to others
They have good communication skills
They know how to make friends.
They care about their appearance and take care of their bodies.
Low Self Esteem
Meaning
people with low self-esteem are unhappy or unsatisfied with themselves most of
the time.
It includeshaving negative feelings such as sadness, depression, anxiety, anger,
shame or guilt, fear.
People who have low self-esteem often feel inferiority complex and fear of
judgement and often lack the courage to face challenges.
causes
Unhappy childhood where parents or other significant people such as teachers
were extremely critical
Poor academic performance in school resulting in a lack of confidence
Ongoing stressful life events such as relationship breakdown or financial trouble
Poor treatment from a partner, parent or caregiver, for example, being in an
abusive relationship
Ongoing medical problems such as chronic pain, serious illness or physical
disability
Features
Is extremely critical of themselves
Downplays or ignores their positive qualities
Uses negative words to describe themselves and often they have a negative self-
talk.
 Judges themselves to be inferior to their peers
Mostly negative, critical and self-blaming
Building
Develop positive self-talk
Challenge negative ‘self-talk’
Accept everyone is different and each one has its own unique character
Identify your strength and weaknesses
Appreciate and enrich your strength and talents
Be focused on the present
Do self-assessment
Do self-evaluation
Be happy and seek out new opportunities
Self-awareness
Meaning
Types
Importance
Self-awareness is the foundation of personal development, allowing individuals to
recognize their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It empowers them to steer their
lives in the desired direction by understanding their own motivations and tendencies.
Developing self-awareness involves focusing on one's personality and behavior,
enabling early detection and easier correction of unwanted habits. It also enhances
empathy, improving both personal and professional relationships.
Self-awareness plays a pivotal role in personal growth, as it helps individuals identify
their strengths and weaknesses. Feedback from others supports this self-
awareness, making it a valuable skill for life.
Self-awareness is crucial for goal setting and is the starting point for personal
development. It leads to self-understanding and the ability to make positive changes,
ultimately leading to success.
The process of self-awareness involves observing and understanding one's
thoughts, feelings, attitudes, reactions, and behaviors. This self-knowledge allows
individuals to choose new ways of behaving and expressing themselves, which is
vital for successful and healthy relationships.
Self-control
Self-control is a crucial tool for self-improvement and success when used wisely.
It helps manage self-destructive behaviors, emotions, and addictions, leading to
balance and peace of mind.
 Obstacles to self-control include lack of knowledge, uncontrolled emotional responses,
Lack of the desire to change and improve, Lack of faith in oneself and in one's abilities
and a lack of discipline.
To develop self-control, assess areas of life that require improvement, identify
uncontrolled emotions and thoughts, and strengthen willpower.
Self-control is vital for overcoming obsessions, fears, addictions, improving
relationships, and achieving success and happiness.
Empathy and Sympathy
Sympathy is a heartfelt concern for someone's well-being, distinct from pity, which is a
simple expression of sorrow.
Empathy involves recognizing and sharing another person's emotions, understanding
their suffering from their perspective, and openly sharing their emotions, even distress.
Empathy differs from sympathy, pity, and compassion, as they mainly acknowledge
another's distress without the same depth of engagement or a desire to help.
Compassion goes further than empathy, reflecting a genuine desire to assist a
suffering person.
Empathy is rooted in shared human experiences, making it applicable to people but not
animals.
Paul Ekman a psychologist who specializes in emotionshas identified three types of
empathy.
Emotional Quotient and Social Quotient
Meaning
Etymologically the word emotion is derived from the Latin word ‘emovere’ which
means ‘to stir up’, ‘to agitate’ or ‘to exist’.
Generally, emotions can be classified into two:Positive emotions and negative
emotions
Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate
emotions
A number of testing instruments have been developed to measure emotional
intelligence, although the content and approach of each test varies.
EQ
It is a relatively recent behavioural model, rising to prominence with Daniel
Goleman's book titled 'Emotional Intelligence' published in 1995
two aspects of intelligence:
Understanding ourselves, our goals, intentions, responses, behaviour etc.
Understanding others, and their feelings.
Five domains of EQ or EI
 1. Knowing our emotions.
2. Managing our own emotions.
3. Motivating ourselves.
4. Recognising and understanding other people's emotions.
5. Managing relationships, i.e., managing the emotions of others.
Components
1. Intrapersonal Skills (ability to understand and apply personal emotions)
2. Interpersonal Skills (people skills)
3. Stress Management (ability to handle challenges)
4. Adaptability (Ability to react quickly, appropriately, and efficiently to change)
5. General Mood
SQ
Social quotient (SQ) measures the ability to navigate complex social relationships
and environments.
Comprises self and social awareness, evolved beliefs, and the capacity to manage
social change.
Social intelligence, as defined by Thorndike, is about understanding and managing
people in human relations.
It's akin to interpersonal intelligence in Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple
Intelligences and relates to the theory of mind.
According to Sean Foleno, social intelligence involves comprehending the
environment and reacting appropriately for social success.
Social intelligence includes understanding others' motives, emotions, intentions, and
influencing their behavior.
Developing Positive thinking and Assertiveness`
Positive thinking is the practice of replacing negative thoughts with affirmative ones to
improve mental well-being and reverse the effects of negativity.
Steps for developing positive thinking include: feeding the mind with positive thoughts,
practicing persistence, observing self-talk, reframing thinking, replacing negative
influences, asking questions and finding positive answers, replacing negative self-talk,
learning discipline and motivation, and being hopeful and respectful to oneself.
Self-Talk is our inner voice that influences our feelings and behavior, with both positive
and negative self-talk impacting self-esteem and confidence.
Positive self-talk leads to independence, enhanced self-confidence, goal achievement,
better health, resistance to external pressures, empowerment in adversity, and greater
optimism about the future.
 Positive thinking fosters a sense of pride, control, and optimism, which can be
developed through continuous practice.
Optimistic thinking and a positive attitude can boost self-esteem and self-confidence,
leading to greater satisfaction and happiness in life and career.
Positive thinkers focus on the positive aspects even in adverse situations.
Overall, positive thinking is a valuable tool for improving one's outlook on life and
enhancing personal well-being.
ASSERTIVENESS
Assertiveness is a communication style that allows individuals to express their needs,
emotions, and desires without violating the rights of others or having their own rights
violated.
It strikes a balance between aggression and passivity, enabling people to ask for what
they want, say no when necessary, and express emotions without self-consciousness.
Assertiveness is characterized by confident and affirmative statements that affirm a
person's rights and point of view.
During the second half of the 20th century, assertiveness was increasingly singled out
as a behavioural skill taught by many personal development experts, behaviour
therapists, and cognitive behavioural therapists
Assertiveness is often linked to self-esteem
The three types of behavior—Passive, Aggressive, and Assertive—help differentiate
assertiveness, with assertive behavior striking a balance between the other two,
allowing needs and emotions to be recognized and fulfilled.
Importance
1. Able to reduce the level of interpersonal conflict in their lives. 2. Able to reduce
stress and strain. 3. Able to resolve conflict 4. Able to make healthy and productive
life 5. Able to promote healthy self esteem. 6. Able to express honest feelings
comfortably.. 7. Able to exercise personal rights. 8. Able to take life decisions. 9.
Able to make stronger and supportive relationships.
Tips
Think of positive statements and develop positive attitude and positive self talk.

Taking responsibility for our thoughts and actions.

Set realistic specific targets
Being direct and honest.
Give respect and take respect.
Being responsive to others
Be perfect but don't put pressure on yourself to be perfect
Develop and maintain healthy relationships.
 Admit and accept mistakes.
Identify your strengths and weakness
Avoid bullying and demanding behaviour ·
Avoid physically aggressive behaviour
MODULE II LIFE SKILLS FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION

MODULE III LIFE SKILL FOR CAREER PLANNING