This topic was brought to me by a parent who was at his wit's end about what to do to help his son quit talking down about himself.

There are a number of different things that could be factors in causing a teen to talk negatively about themselves. From bullying by peers, to failing at something, or even a friendship turned sour.

Often times though it comes down to the language we as parents, teachers, and leader use in our conversations with teens. With a subtle shift in the wording we use, we can go from disempowering them, to giving them the confidence they need to grow into well rounded adults.