This was my 3rd encounter with this transient woman, I was about to straight put her in handcuffs, but the man (resident) came and vouched for her. He didn't want to vouch for her all the way and invite her to his home though. I can respect his desire to help these people by giving them food and water, and other residents even give them shelter and a shower. I want to help them too, however, my job and commitment to being a professional does not allow me to be so soft and sympathetic with my application of enforcing the rules and using my position to give favors or other people's resources. My education as a psychologist however, compels me to honestly believe that what these people need the most is self-respect and dignity. And these attributes can never be "given" to another. Having pride in oneself and being worthy of honor and respect are sensations that people feel about themselves when they know they are behaving as they are supposed to or have achieved something difficult on their own. Dignity is recognized by others when and how they recognize it, and their dignified treatment is acknowledgement of this status. Giving "dignity" and respect to some that does not deserve it or even truly gives it to themselves, is just foolish and diminishes and insults everyone involved.
I honestly believe that by removing all the sympathetic, delusional, social and cognitive barriers that provide a false comfort or prevent a struggling person from recognizing their actual situation, they are less likely to do the difficult and necessary things that only they can do for themselves to make them feel more honorable, respectable, and dignified.
When an individual who is struggling can no longer lie to themselves and manipulate those around them, then they have no choice but to pull themselves "up by the bootstraps" and confront their poor habits that are actually keeping them down.
0 Comments