Create Your Personal Bill of Rights
Posted in Motivation
When you speak of the Bill of Rights, most Americans would automatically think of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. Here in Canada, we have our own Canadian Bill of Rights. How about having a personal Bill of Rights; a list of rights which belong to you.
Almost 40 years ago, Peter Griffiths put together the following list of personal rights:
- I have the right to be treated with respect; and the responsibility to ask for respect from others, and to respect them in return.
- I have the right to have and express my own feelings and opinions. I have the responsibility to express feelings or opinions as “I” statements, not “You make me feel”, statements. I need to take the responsibility for my own feelings and opinions.
- I have the right to be listened to and taken seriously.
- I have the responsibility to express myself clearly, simply and calmly,and to take myself seriously on serious matters.
- I have the right to set my own priorities.
- I have the responsibility to spend the time and energy required to do this.
- I have the right to say “No”, without feeling guilty, or having to come up with reasons satisfactory to others. I have the responsibility to say, “No”, honestly and firmly, without any “Yes, but….”, and NOT to allow others to make me feel guilty for saying ‘No.”
- I have the right to ask for what I want, knowing others have the right to refuse.
- I have the responsibility to accept that others are responsible for their decision, I am responsible for mine.
- I have the right to ask for information from professionals.
- I have the responsibility to decide if the information I receive is helpful, and whether or not to make use of it.
- I have the right to make mistakes. I have the responsibility to accept that I don’t need to be perfect.
- I have the right NOT to assert myself. I have the responsibility to accept the results of that choice, and feel okay about it.
- I have the right to change my mind. I have the responsibility to accept the consequences that result from my changing it.
- I have the right to say, “I don’t know the answer”. I have the responsibility to accept that I don’t have to know everything.
- I have the right to say, “I need time to think that over. I have the responsibility to set definite time aside to do this job.
- I have the right to put certain things off until later. I have the responsibility to define and decide exactly when ‘later’ is, and to meet the specific time deadlines that I set for myself.
- I have the right for time to myself. I have the responsibility to schedule this time, and assertively defend it for myself.
- I have the right to make decisions for myself. I have the responsibility to assert this right with others, and NOT blame others for decisions that I made or was responsible for making.
The thing about rights is, they each come with responsibility. Every change you make in your life changes how others relate to you.
At times you may feel overwhelmed. Life doesn’t just stop, and people will try control you or push you around. What you can do is to recognize your rights and responsibilities and stick to them.
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