iLEAD
iChoose
LESSON 1
Choices
“One of the greatest gifts you will ever
receive is the gift to make choices.”
JOHN C. MAXWELL
2
LEGEND
Use the pictures in the lesson to guide you.
First person Next person Underline what's Share with Take
read aloud. read aloud. important to you. others. action.
HOW YOU CAN MAKE THIS LESSON HELPFUL FOR YOU AND OTHERS:
1. Respect, value, and encourage yourself and others.
2. Take turns reading out loud. The facilitator, the person leading
the group, goes first.
3. Share openly. As you read, underline what is important to you.
4. Work as a group. Review. Reflect. Take action.
N GOAL
O
S
I will understand the value of choices
LES
and practice them.
Value b le
Valua
Focus Words
3
01
Choice is a Gift
THE BENEFITS OF CHOICE
○ I will have freedom.
○ I will be able to lead myself well.
○ I will have the ability to make my life better.
Choice is a gift to value!
When we value something or find it valuable
valuable, it is worth a lot to us.
Select the benefit above that is most desirable to you.
What benefit did you select? Why?
REFLECTION
In the gift box, draw a picture of a choice you look forward to making.
SHARE with your group what might happen if you chose not to unwrap or
make the choice. For example, would you miss out on a chance to teach
someone to play a game you really enjoy?
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02
Life's Choices
Some things we choose. Other things we don’t choose. Sometimes
the things we had no choice about can be hard. However, you do not
have to allow past or present circumstances, the conditions around
something, to discourage you about your future.
As you grow, the more choices you will make. How you feel about
yourself is often built upon and shaped by the choices you make.
Our circumstances affect us. We may not get to choose our
circumstances, but we can choose how we think about and react to
our circumstances. Our thoughts and our choices have the ability to
make our future look better and brighter.
REFLECTION
Think of a choice you get to make. How does it make you feel to think about
making that choice? For example, you get to choose what attitude to have
toward a friend who has upset you. The choice to have a positive attitude
toward them could feel like losing, but is a chance for you to shine.
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From what you’ve explored so far, SHARE with your group something that
you have learned about the value of choice. For example, did you learn that
with growth comes more choices?
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03
As Age Increases,
the Gift of Choice Increases
“You can’t go back and make a new start, but you can start
right now and make a brand new ending.”1
JAMES R. SHERMAN
Choices give everyone the chance to change some circumstances.
As you get older, you get to make more choices. In the beginning, that
can be scary! We might think we shouldn’t unwrap the gift of choice.
If that happens to you, then it is important to know that “No choice is
a choice!” Remember the picture you drew of a choice you get to make
and what might happen if you chose not to unwrap it. Choosing not
to choose leaves your gift of choice wrapped!
To encourage you to get started making choices, it is helpful to know
that while some choices are final, they are followed by other choices
to learn and grow. Everybody has made wrong choices. That’s the bad
news. Want the good news? You can choose to make choices that add
value and practice them starting now.
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REFLECTION
For each picture below, write some choices that we get at different ages
and stages of life.
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Choose one of your ages and stages and SHARE the choices that you listed
with your group
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04
The Value of
Making Good Choices
04
The Value of
Making Good Choices
“There is a choice you have to make in everything you do.
So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.”2
JOHN WOODEN
Life is full of choices! All day, each and every day. You not only have
to make choices, you are made by them. Choices powerfully shape you.
Who you become is a reflection of your choices.
The beauty of choice is that if you want a better result, all you have
to do is make a better choice.
REFLECTION
Reread the quote at the top of the page to yourself and then answer below.
Write a choice How has this choice shaped you?
you’ve made that For example, do you choose
has shaped you. to help others more.
_______________________________ __________________________________________________
_______________________________ __________________________________________________
SHARE one thing with the group that you can do to remind yourself to make
choices that add value? An example might be writing yourself a note.
GOAL TIME
Today, I will make choices that add
value and positively affect me.
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05
Choices are the Best Way
to Change Your Life
By now you have learned, you don’t get better by chance, you get
better by choice. So, where do you start? With yourself ! Often, we are
tempted to want to change others, especially those who are close to
us. We say, “If they would get better, I would make better choices.”
That is not really true. You cannot control others, but you do have
control over who you are becoming. Choose to make yourself better,
and you will see positive results.
I WANTED TO CHANGE
THE WORLD
“I found it was difficult to change the world,
so I tried to change my nation. When I found
I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus
on my town. I couldn’t change the town, and
as an older man, I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing
I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize
that if long ago I had changed myself, I could
have made an impact on my family. My family
and I could have made an impact on our
town. Their impact could have changed the
nation, and I could indeed have changed
the world.”
UNKNOWN MONK 1100 A.D.
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REFLECTION
What is one choice you can make that will change you in a way that is valuable?
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How might that change be valuable to your family?
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How might that change be valuable to your community?
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How might that change be valuable to your world?
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SHARE one thing that you learned from the story with the group.
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06
Making Positive Choices
Benefits Others
One of the best ways to make positive choices that benefit others is
to add value to people daily. Every day I choose to…
1. V
alue people.
I value myself and others because we are all human.
2. I mprove my ability to make choices that add value.
Making choices can either help me or hurt me. Making positive
choices helps me and helps others.
3. D o things that other people value.
Asking people questions or asking their opinion shows that you
value them.
REFLECTION
What can I choose that values people? An example might be listening to a
friend who needs to talk.
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What choice can I make to value myself? An example might be playing
outside to get some exercise.
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What can I choose that others will value? An example might be asking
someone what they think about a book you both read.
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Take turns reading the goal below out loud and SHARE one choice
you can make today that will positively affect someone else.
An example might be raising your hand and waiting to be called
on before speaking in class.
GOAL TIME
Today, I will make choices that add
value and will positively affect others.
1
Sherman, James R. Rejection. Pathway Books, 1982.
2
Wooden, John. Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court.
McGraw-Hill, 1997.
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N1
SO
S
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Goal Review
I will ______________________________________ the value of choices and ______________________________________ them.
Using the scale below, where do you see yourself in demonstrating the
lesson goal for the value of Choices.
1 2 3 4 5
○ ○ ○ ○ ○
I’ve just started I’m meeting this I’m ready to share
practicing this goal. goal sometimes. this goal with others.
Why did you choose that response?
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What is one ACTION STEP that could help you grow in demonstrating this
goal? Make your action step doable in the next few days.
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SHARE your action step with the group.
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