This month’s book selection was The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook. One of my favorite parts of that book is the Personal Bill of Rights. So many people are struggling with anxiety resulting from too much stress in their lives, and I believe this list of personal rights can be incredibly helpful to lower much of that stress. All children should be taught these rights from infancy on. Unfortunately, that too often doesn’t happen! Since it doesn’t, I share it with my clients and others that I feel would be open to seeing it.
I want to share this list with all of you, because I believe that if you read it on a daily basis and really think about each one, and how it could change your life, you will begin to see a major shift in how you feel emotionally, physically, and spiritually. One way to use this list effectively is to write one or two that are particularly meaningful to you on index cards, which you can post around your house, car, or work area to be reminders throughout your day. Once a week or so, make new cards and exchange them for the old ones. Those cards can be put in your bedside table to review each night at bedtime. The list is long, so I’ll split it into 3 entries. If you keep a journal, you can write the entire list there, so that it’s always available to you. Here we go with Part One:
Personal Bill of Rights
- I have the right to ask for what I want.
- I have the right to say no to requests or demands I can’t meet.
- I have the right to express all of my feelings, positive or negative.
- I have the right to change my mind.
- I have the right to make mistakes and not have to be perfect.
- I have the right to follow my own values and standards.
- I have the right to say no to anything when I feel I am not ready; it is unsafe, or it violates my values.
- I have the right to determine my own priorities.
My next entry will be the second part of the list, so come back and check them out. Get those index cards and pick your favorite two rights to list on several cards. Give it a try and watch your life change!