Quotes for teens on life lessons

Quote Overview / Description

Quote about happiness and conscience

This quote about happiness shows teens that a conscience works in two directions. We usually think of how a conscience reminds you when you make a bad choice, and consequently makes you feel bad. But a conscience works the other direction as well. When you do something good, your conscience helps you feel good about yourself.

Good choices and kind acts toward others swell a heart with feelings of pride. So... making good choices and being kind are great for a teen's self-esteem. Doing the right thing is it’s own reward. The resulting happiness, pride and positive self image are yours to enjoy-- even if no one else knows you made a good choice. (More on the link between making good choices and building self-esteem and self-respect.) 

Discussion questions / Writing Prompts

Questions to prompt discussion, journaling, essays for high school health class and social emotional development lessons:

1. Have you ever felt you had one part of yourself pushing you to make a healthy choice, and another pushing you to make an unhealthy choice? What did you do? How did you feel afterward?
2. What if you treat someone kindly or make a good choice but no one knows you did it? Was it worth doing? Why or why not?
3. What if you could do something you want to do but aren’t supposed to do …something your parents would not be happy about but you think they won’t find out about it? How would you feel about yourself after you did it? How would you feel if you chose not to do it?

Video

Activities

Activities and worksheets for teen SEL / high school health and wellness lessons:

1. Doing Good Quote Journaling Page- Download a printable journaling and mindfulness activity with this quote.
2. Connecting Choices and Consequences Worksheet- In this worksheet-based activity, students see the connection between choices and how the consequences feel in the long run.
3. Happiness through Kind Acts Activity- In this Teen SEL / Health activity students see that lasting happiness is found through experiences and giving to others.
4. Science of Kindness Activity- Use this video on the Science of Kindness to reinforce how doing good deeds is good for the person doing them. Video offers learning resources on how kindness impacts personal health by increasing happiness, increasing positive brain chemical levels, reducing stress and more.
5. Kindness in Action Activity- These videos are a great way to trigger the positive emotions one experiences when doing the right thing. Encourage students to imagine-- if it feels this good watching these strangers being kind and acting with good character, how good will it feel when they do a kind act themselves?
   • Video 1: Athletes being kind and respectful to opponents
   • Video 2: The domino effect of kindness

Coloring Pages

Download printable coloring pages for a mindfulness activity that features this quote.

1. Classic coloring page
2. Expanding Heart coloring page

Curriculum Topics

High School Health Class / Social Emotional Development Core Curriculum Alignment:

• Healthy Choices
• Positive relationships
• Self-concept
• Happiness, emotions

Themes

• Making good choices feels good
• Good choices offer their own reward - the good feelings you have about yourself
• Having self respect is good for your self esteem.

Character Traits/Values

• Respect
• Self Control
• Caring / Kindness
• Empathy
• Self Esteem / Self Confidence

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