Quote Of The Week
Dignity is a word we often hear about; many of us are taught when we are young that a dignified life is something we should have. Dignity is one of those abstract words that we rarely get the true definition of, yet we apparently need dignity to have a fulfilling life.
The true meaning of dignity is that it looks different in each of us. When you can shroud yourself in dignity that you have created on your own, you are more likely to be well-equipped to healthily handle whatever the future may hold. True dignity is a strong foundation which you can stand on every day in your life. Real dignity cannot be taken away from you no matter what happens.
Discovering the true meaning of dignity, and building a healthy sense of dignity within ourselves, takes time and patience. The discovery of dignity and a dignified life is often a complex process, but it can be done. To be successful in living a dignified life, it is important to take time to work on the elements of dignity one by one.
Self-worth is a measure of how much we value being dignified. It is a form of dignity that requires understanding what makes us special, why we matter, and why we deserve to live a dignified life.
We can discover our self-worth and dignity by actively seeking out what makes us matter and feel dignified when all outside influences go away. One way to discover dignity is to eliminate behaviors, thought patterns, or people who do not treat you in a dignified manner. Try to make every aspect of your dignified life align with your values and appreciate who you are at your dignified core—only then will you live with dignity.
Dignity and self-esteem can be improved when we silence our inner critic and find reasons to challenge its logic. If your inner critic is yelling, "You never do anything right!" you can sit down and write a list of all the things that prove that thought wrong and prove your own dignity. Even if the list is as plain as "I get to work on time every day," that's okay-that is dignified enough. Even one challenge is enough to start rewiring your dignity and how you feel about yourself.
