Maintaining Dignity:
One of the ways I maintain dignity while in prison is practicing Mindfulness. I try to look at everyone through a lens of love. I respect my peers by acknowledging that we all went through something that brought us to prison. No one is better than anyone else. This helps me remember that when I go back to the community I will also be dealing with all kinds of people with different backgrounds, ideas, and attitudes. Whether it be a job or my neighbors. We might not think or act alike but we can respect our peers and create a more positive environment and reduce conflicts. A boss I recently had told me, “You have to learn to deal with all kinds of people.” He would tell me this whenever I would vent to him about a situation I did not like. He was right, we have to strive to be a little more open-minded and understanding. This takes mindfulness to stop and look at a situation and seek to understand why someone might be acting a certain way. It’s not always easy but with practice it is a very helpful tool.
READ NEWSLETTER ARTICLE HERE: https://prisonprofessors.com/journal-entries/maintaining-dignity-in-confinement/
