Your Personal Bill of Rights

Have you heard of Personal Bill of Rights, written by Dr. Edmund Bourne?
A personal bill of rights is a set of affirmations that outline an individual's rights and entitlements in various aspects of life.

Your Personal Bill of Rights:
1. I have the right to ask for what I want.
2. I have the right to say no to requests or demands I can’t meet.
3. I have the right to express all of my feelings, positive or negative.
4. I have the right to change my mind.
5. I have the right to make mistakes and not have to be perfect.
6. I have the right to follow my own standards and standards.
7. I have the right to say no to anything when I feel I am not ready, it is unsafe, or it violates my values.
8. I have the right to determine my own priorities.
9. I have the right not to be responsible for others’ behavior, actions, feelings, or problems.
10. I have the right to expect honesty from others.
11. I have the right to be angry at someone I love.
12. I have the right to be uniquely myself.
13. I have the right to feel scared and say “I’m scared.”
14. I have the right to say “I don’t know.”
15. I have the right not to give excuses or reasons for my behavior.
16. I have the right to make decisions based on my feelings.
17. I have the right to my own needs for personal space and time.
18. I have the right to be playful and frivolous.
19. I have the right to be healthier than those around me.
20. I have the right to be in a non-abusive environment.
21. I have the right to make friends and be comfortable around people.
22. I have the right to change and grow.
23. I have the right to have my needs and wants to be respected by others.
24. I have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
25. I have the right to be happy.

Setting a personal bill of rights allows us to identify our needs and boundaries, and communicate them effectively to others. By clearly defining our rights, we can maintain a healthy level of self-respect and self-esteem, and ensure that our needs are met in relationships and interactions with others.

As mentioned in an earlier Wednesday Wellness tip, setting boundaries is crucial for establishing healthy relationships and maintaining emotional well-being. Without clear boundaries, we may come to feel overwhelmed, taken advantage of, or disrespected. By setting boundaries and insisting on our rights, we can protect our energy, time, resources, mental and emotional health and cultivate relationships that are mutually respectful and fulfilling.

Do you already subscribe to this Personal Bill of Rights? Is there anything you would add? Were there any statements in the Personal Bill of Rights that resonated most with you?

~Kate