goingonhope
31-01-2007, 12:27 AM
We begin to discover that we have rights as individual human beings. As children and even as adults we may have been treated by others as though we had few or no rights. We may have come to believe that we had no rights. And we may be living our lives now as though we have none.
As we heal, we can put together our personal "Bill of Rights".
The following is a compilation of some rights, others have listed:
Personal Bill Of Rights
1. I have numerous choices in my life beyond mere survival.
2. I have a right to discover and know my child within.
3. I have a right to grieve over what I didn't get that I needed or what I got that I didn't need or want.
4. I have a right to follow my own values and standards.
5. I have a right to recognize and accept my own value system as appropriate.
6. I have a right to say No to anything when I feel I am not ready, it is unsafe or violates my values.
7. I have a right to dignity and respect.
8. I have a right to make decisions.
9. I have a right to determine and honor my own priorities.
10. I have the right to have my needs and wants respected by others.
11. I have the right to terminate conversations with people who make me feel put down or humiliated.
12. I have the right to not be responsible for others behavior, actions, feelings, or problems.
13. I have a right to make mistakes and not have to be perfect.
14. I have a right to expect honesty from others.
15. I have a right to all of my feelings.
16. I have a right to be angry at someone I love.
17. I have a right to be uniquely me, without feeling I'm not good enough.
18. I have a right to feel scared and to say "I'm afraid".
19. I have the right to experience and then let go of fear, guilt and shame.
20. I have a right to make decisions based on my feelings, my judgement, or any reason that I choose.
21. I have a right to change my mind at any time.
22. I have the right to be happy.
23. I have a right to stability -- i.e., "roots" and stable healthy relationships of my choice.
24. I have the right to my own personal space and time needs.
25. There is no need to smile when I cry.
26. It is OK to be relaxed, playful and frivolous.
27. I have the right to be flexible and be comfortable with doing so.
28. I have the right to change and grow.
29. I have the right to be open to improve communication skills so that I may be understood.
30. I have a right to make friends and be comfortable around them.
31. I have a right to be in a non-abusive environment.
32. I can be healthier than those around me.
33. I can take care of myself, no matter what.
34. I have the right to grieve over actual or threatened losses.
35. I have the right to trust others who earn my trust.
36. I have the right to forgive others and to forgive myself.
37. I have the right to give and to receive unconditional love.
** In addition: ...
The Assertive Bill Of Rights
· The right to be treated with respect
· The right to have and express my own feelings and opinions
· The right to be listened to seriously
· The right to set my own priorities
· The right to say No without feeling guilty
· The right to ask, knowing that others have the right to refuse
· The right to get what I pay for
· The right to make mistakes
· The right to choose not to assert myself
Consider what rights you have, write them out and perhaps later share them.
(source unknown, anonymous)
As we heal, we can put together our personal "Bill of Rights".
The following is a compilation of some rights, others have listed:
Personal Bill Of Rights
1. I have numerous choices in my life beyond mere survival.
2. I have a right to discover and know my child within.
3. I have a right to grieve over what I didn't get that I needed or what I got that I didn't need or want.
4. I have a right to follow my own values and standards.
5. I have a right to recognize and accept my own value system as appropriate.
6. I have a right to say No to anything when I feel I am not ready, it is unsafe or violates my values.
7. I have a right to dignity and respect.
8. I have a right to make decisions.
9. I have a right to determine and honor my own priorities.
10. I have the right to have my needs and wants respected by others.
11. I have the right to terminate conversations with people who make me feel put down or humiliated.
12. I have the right to not be responsible for others behavior, actions, feelings, or problems.
13. I have a right to make mistakes and not have to be perfect.
14. I have a right to expect honesty from others.
15. I have a right to all of my feelings.
16. I have a right to be angry at someone I love.
17. I have a right to be uniquely me, without feeling I'm not good enough.
18. I have a right to feel scared and to say "I'm afraid".
19. I have the right to experience and then let go of fear, guilt and shame.
20. I have a right to make decisions based on my feelings, my judgement, or any reason that I choose.
21. I have a right to change my mind at any time.
22. I have the right to be happy.
23. I have a right to stability -- i.e., "roots" and stable healthy relationships of my choice.
24. I have the right to my own personal space and time needs.
25. There is no need to smile when I cry.
26. It is OK to be relaxed, playful and frivolous.
27. I have the right to be flexible and be comfortable with doing so.
28. I have the right to change and grow.
29. I have the right to be open to improve communication skills so that I may be understood.
30. I have a right to make friends and be comfortable around them.
31. I have a right to be in a non-abusive environment.
32. I can be healthier than those around me.
33. I can take care of myself, no matter what.
34. I have the right to grieve over actual or threatened losses.
35. I have the right to trust others who earn my trust.
36. I have the right to forgive others and to forgive myself.
37. I have the right to give and to receive unconditional love.
** In addition: ...
The Assertive Bill Of Rights
· The right to be treated with respect
· The right to have and express my own feelings and opinions
· The right to be listened to seriously
· The right to set my own priorities
· The right to say No without feeling guilty
· The right to ask, knowing that others have the right to refuse
· The right to get what I pay for
· The right to make mistakes
· The right to choose not to assert myself
Consider what rights you have, write them out and perhaps later share them.
(source unknown, anonymous)