Dignity: The View from the Balcony 

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin 

I love this quote by James Baldwin. It reminds me that nothing can change unless we take the chance to change it.  

One of the many things that has stuck with me when I read and continue to read “Leading with Dignity” by Dr. Donna Hicks is looking at how we respond to situations and challenges. Sometimes we must stop, think, climb up to that imaginary balcony, look down, and decide what is the right thing to do. I will tell you that all too often when my dignity was violated, I would lash out. I was going to hurt you before you could hurt me. This response never produced a particularly good outcome for me. My anger interfered with my ability to be the man I wanted to be. When people talk about toxic environments well, I had an internal toxic environment that I was afraid to face and try to change. 

It was not until I took the advice of Dr. Hicks and took my vulnerability inventory to discover why I respond to violations the way I do. I discovered that I worked hard to be accepted. I wanted the acknowledgement of others to help validate who I was. When I discovered this the challenging lifelong work has begun to conquer my internal toxic environment. It has been hard and I have had successes and failures but each time I take my view from the balcony, and I evaluate, and I figure out what works and what does not. This journey has taught me how to face challenges and do my best to stand up for what is right. 

I have seen what dignity has done for me and my internal battles and I have seen what it can do to strengthen a team (Just ask my friends at Clinical Documentation Improvement at Baystate). Honoring dignity by taking the time to challenge the things that cause you to violate your dignity and the dignity of others is important in creating a connection to something higher that something higher could be to create a better workplace or strengthen the connection with your family. Whatever it is I know that connecting to dignity will get you to where you need to be.  

I put this challenge to you. If you are in an environment that is challenging or “toxic” I would read “Leading with Dignity” and I would begin to evaluate yourself and your team. I would allow your team to share their thoughts and their struggles and then that is when you will begin the real work to elevate dignity. What have you got to lose? You will have successes and you will have setbacks. But as James Baldwin says, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” 

Go forward with dignity 

Charles Redd RN 

Dignity Freedom Fighter