How do you regain your pride and dignity?

Pride and dignity are words that are used to describe a proper sense of personal satisfaction, values and self-worth.

To some people, pride can evoke a negative impression. Here, you are going to look at the aspect of pride and dignity that stress on positive qualities.

When you experience an enjoyable attitude and satisfaction on your accomplishments, appearance, personal standards and own worth, you have the right to feel content and assured.

It is not egotism but the recognition that you are in control of your own life. Accomplishing something that matters to you through efforts, determination, diligence and dedication and without putting others down reflects on your capabilities.

How did you develop the sense of pride and dignity or the lack of it?

• Lessons from childhood.

This is usually the time when you are introduced to the meaning of regards, distinction and respect for yourself and others.

Watching how your parents or the elders treat each other based on all the differences in people will develop your own understanding of the meanings.

You instill a proper sense of pride and dignity when you consistently receive words of praise on your accomplishments, on developing your capabilities and learning to solve problems.

Learning and valuing your personal worth as a person regardless of your physique, race or culture in the early days will help you become a person who develops the confidence to go after what is worth your time and efforts.

• Challenges and adversities.

When you are able to overcome challenge and adversities, you develop your self-esteem and build your courage to do what may seem impossible to some people. It enables you to look at the positive side of every difficulty and are aware that you can learn and grow from them.

Tough times will test your courage, values and beliefs. If you are a person who has a correct level of respect for yourself, you will refuse to accept defeat without doing your best.

Failure to overcome them and indulging instead in self-defeating behavior will deprive you of feeling independent, having control and regards for yourself.

• Abuse and trauma.

Battered and sexually abused children and women suffer immense low self-esteem and the feeling of unworthiness. Breakups, divorce and infidelity in marriage may cause the loss of ones morale and respect.

Facing verbal abuse or mismanagement at your work place can also affect your self-worth. When you are humiliated or embarrassed, you feel that you have been striped off your dignity.

How do you regain the loss of pride and dignity?

• Acknowledge your own worthiness as a human being of value.

Acknowledging your self-worth allows you to still feel dignified when people humiliate or offend you. Unfair treatments and violation of rights can torment and cause anguish. Having a proper sense of pride will allow you to continue to walk tall and not take insults personally.

• Set your standards and personal values.

To enable you not to feel deluge with false pride, you must know what's important to you and appreciate the values in others. Set your own standards of what you will or will not accept and do only what is right. Refuse to indulge in habits, beliefs and attitudes that are not empowering and are degrading.

• Take care of your appearance, behavior and character.

People can tell what kind of person you are from your behavior, character, attitude and appearance. You must learn to instill respect for yourself and others and maintain the qualities that show the person who is dignified and assured.

• Develop your talents and achieve your goals.

Strive to develop your talents, open up yourself to possibilities and achieve your goals. Your own personal efforts, courage to act in spite of the uncertainties will reinforce your personal values and make you an effective person.

A job well done that does not compromise your personal standards and values enhances your morale and gives you an inner peace, calm and poise.

• Learn to accept success and your right to feel the sense of joy in your achievements.

Regardless of what has happened in the past or the indignation that you have suffered, you have the right to change and succeed in the future. Your future does not have to be the extension of your past failures, mistakes and ignorance.

• Contribute to others.

Offer your service and kind deeds to people who are in need. A word of encouragement can heal a wounded heart and a smile can lighten up someone's day. You will walk with dignity when you know that your kind deeds have touched the life of others.

How you conduct yourself will determine how others treat you. You can become a person with an admirable reputation by putting in the efforts, time and loyalty to those whom you interact with and those who are absent.

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