Basic Human Rights

[Sterre]

A lot of times I find myself doubting or judging my needs or wants.
I am so used to minimize my needs, and to judge them negatively, that I lost sight of what my/our basic Human rights are.

Maybe it can be helpfull and empowering, to write down, what you think youre human rights are?

I have discovered that I have the right to:

• Feel safe
• Make mistakes without beating myself up for it
• Feel vulnerable without being in danger
• feel scared without beating myself up for it
• trust myself on my own opinion

What basic rights do you have for yourself?

 

[sea]

Feel and think what I want. Even if I examine it and say well not really, it is something that I seem to unconsciously jump to defend regardless.

 

[Tinyflame]

Believe what I want.
Recognize my limitations.
Value what I want.
Eat what I want.
Recognize what's important to me.
Acknowledge I have feelings.
Admit when I'm wrong.
Be responsible for my own actions, thoughts and feelings.
Seek safety when necessary.
Speak.

 

[angel2write]

An interesting question, Sterre....

I have a right to wear what I want. Even if it's not fashionable, flattering, or sexy. As long as it's modest and relatively appropriate to the occasion, I can wear any plain, baggy-looking thing I want.

I have a right to say no when people ask me to do stuff for them.

I have a right to choose not to be friends with people who use me or try to control me with guilt.

 

[ThinkFeelBe]

THATS GREAT!!! I aggree with all that you said. I have my own list on the back of the toilet door to remind me that I have the right to be me. I also would like to add to your list...

To be respected
to have the final decsion for me.

I have also been working on MY RESPONSIBILITIES.
I have come to learn that: don't do for others, what they ought to be doing for themselves.
(I some how find myself taking responsibility for others feelings, actions. I make exuses for their behaviour even when they are wrong and hurt me. ) xo

 

[Loloma]

Sterre this is a good topic and one that I'm stilling learning to understand fully.

To be treated as a normal person with the same wants and needs as others.
The right to say No when I want to.
To make my own decisions.
Not to be taken advantage of.
The right to be loved unconditionally.
To be able to express my opinion without being scared of the consequences.
To be happy.

 

[Phoenix_Rising]

Well, I used to have several really good ones of these, but lost them when I lost my (computer) journal :(

So I had a quick look around and here are two I think are pretty good:

A Personal Bill of Rights (Charles Whitfield)

1. I have numerous choices in my life beyond mere survival.
2. I have the right to discover and know my Child Within.
3. I have the 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 the right to follow my own values and standards.
5. I have the right to recognize and accept my own value system as appropriate.
6. I have the right to say no to anything when I feel I am not ready, it is unsafe or it violates my values.
7. I have the right to dignity and respect.
8. I have the right to make decisions.
9. I have the right to determine and honour 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 and humiliated.
12. I have the right to not be responsible for others' behaviour, actions, feelings or problems.
13. I have the right to make mistakes and not have to be perfect.
14. I have the right to expect honesty from others.
15. I have the right to all of my feelings.
16. I have the right to be angry at someone I love.
17. I have the right to be uniquely me, without feeling that I am not good enough.
18. I have the 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 the right to make decisions based on my feelings, my judgement or any reason that I choose.
21. I have the right to change my mind at any time.
22. I have the right to be happy.
23. I have the right to stability, ie. "roots" and stable healthy relationships of my choice.
24. I have the right to my own personal space and time needs.
25. I have the right to be relaxed, playful and frivolous.
26. I have the right to be flexible and be comfortable with doing so.
27. I have the right to change and grow.
28. I have the right to be open to improve my communication skills so that I may be understood.
29. I have the right to make friends and be comfortable around people.
30. I have the right to be in a non-abusive environment.
31. I have the right to be healthier than those around me.
32. I have the right to take care of myself, no matter what.
33. I have the right to grieve over actual or threatened losses.
34. I have the right to trust others who earn my trust.
35. I have the right to forgive others and forgive myself.
36. I have the right to give and receive unconditional love.

The 2nd one, is here

http://sfhelp.org/relate/keys/rights.htm

Which will take me forever to type out because it has to be formatted correctly, so I can't just copy and paste it. But it also has a number of good "rights".

Phoenix_Rising :)

 

[Phoenix_Rising]

I would also add to this, I have the right to my own body. (Which seems like a foreign concept, but...)

I also have the right to choose who, how, when, where or if someone else touches me in any way.

 

[Tinyflame]

Geez, still amazed by even #1, lol.
Lot's of 'rights'- when you see all these things.
xox

 

[Tinyflame]

BTw, 'who' or 'what' determines we have all these 'rights'? I don't mean that sarcastically, I just mean, ~how does all this come about?
-Some seem self- evident, some I've never thought of.

-Sorry if I cannot express this question properly.

 

[Phoenix_Rising]

I would say, based on the author, (and contents) that they are all things that people who have been abused (especially as children, but I think any kind of abuse or mistreatment would apply) have lost and had taken away from them as a result of that abuse or mistreatment.

I think (my own opinion here) that it is about re-claiming--or claiming for the first time, depending on your situation--those things for yourself, about giving yourself back the power of choice in having those things, when you didn't have any choice about them being taken away or never existing in the first place.

Because victims, they don't have choices or rights. They just have to accept whatever happens to them, and whatever effect that has on them.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Big relationships should be healthy and if they aren't I have every right to step away from it.

The right to be healthy.

The right to be Ill (!). I think that's one big one right there for us! While of course still being responsible for it.

The right to expect things from my healthy relationships ( meaning give and take, not just one sided).

Freedom to express myself.

The right to a college education. ( brainwashed into thinking I was stupid, and couldn't even graduate high school.)

The right to graduate with honors! ( You never know right? :) )