Choices and Consequences Objectives Recognize the difference between

Choices and Consequences

Objectives Recognize the difference between decisions and choices. Become aware of the possible “Domino Effect” of Consequences Understand the impact that their choices can have on others. Address the differences between short-term and long-term consequences. Learn to weigh the risks before making choices, large or small. Get a powerful message from a rare messenger about choices and consequences.

What Does it all Mean? 1. Decision: The act of making up one’s mind. 2. Choice: An alternative or the act of choosing. 3. Consequence: A result (whether desired or not).

Taking Responsibility It’s common to try to avoid taking responsibility for actions, especially when the outcome is a negative one. Often we believe that if we can project blame onto someone or something else, this relieves the need to admit a mistake, as well as the need to solve the problem. But instead, making excuses takes power away and it prevents owning up to problems and finding solutions. Excuses prevents us from taking responsibility.

Examples of Excuses/Taking Responsibility Excuse: It broke it Taking responsibility: I broke it, how can I fix it. Excuse: I can’t find it TR: I haven’t found it yet, I need to look harder. Excuse: You made me do it TR: I gave into peer pressure and I shouldn’t have. Excuse: I can’t do it TR: I chose not to do it. I need help doing it.

Activity 1: What are your Excuses? Write down 3 Excuses that you’ve recently used. Rewrite them taking responsibility.

Activity 2 Part 1 - Complete the following statements. Part 2 - Brainstorm various consequences that different responses might bring about. When I get angry at my friend, I When I am aggravated, I When I am ignored, I When I get in trouble, I When my parents won’t listen to me, I

Activity 3 – Process the following questions Why do we use excuses? When you use a responsible statement, who is in control? Tell about a time that you made an excuse to avoid a negative consequence. What happened? Is it easier to make excuses or responsible statements? Why? Is it better to take responsibility and accept consequences or make an excuse to avoid consequences? Why? How can accepting responsibility help improve your schoolwork or your relationship with your friends?

On Monday's news I heard a report about a boy who died after jumping off a local bridge into a river where swimming was restricted because of the danger. The news reported that someone said, "He had no choice. For the boys to cool off, they would have to go several blocks to a community swimming pool. " Doesn't this strike you as an odd thing to say? He had no choice? We always have a choice.