Dignity is your sense of being worthy of yourself and others. It's not so much what you do or don't do, but who you are. Dignity is your right to be treated with respect and to have your needs, wants, and opinions heard. It's all about the feeling of having been "valued and respected."
I find that many people confuse dignity with worth, or having "worth" or "life." The fact is that dignity is nothing more than the standard of acceptable behavior in a society. Who determines what is dignified or not? It's up to each individual.
The concept of human dignity is important because it gives us an insight into who we really are. It's the standard of behavior, we can't be accused of lacking, which is the basis of democracy. Without it, there would be no freedom, and people would still be ruled by the majority rather than the individuals they deserve to be ruled by.
So what does it mean to have dignity? It means that you are able to live in a free society, and that other people respect you and don't unjustly treat you in a way that isn't acceptable. In short, it means that you feel and you deserve to have your needs, wants, and opinions heard, and that you have the same rights as every other person.
How can someone claim dignity if they don't know they deserve it? By recognizing your basic human rights, which are the rights that are granted to you by the state. You have the right to an education, health care, a decent job, and so much more. If you've been deprived of any of these, then it's your responsibility to reclaim them.
It doesn't matter if you think you're superior or inferior. People should not be judged solely on their merit, but by what they contribute to a society. When you feel worthy of dignity, things will start to change.
How do you get this feeling? Start by thinking about how you feel about yourself. If you don't feel confident about your body, that should be a red flag. If you haven't accomplished much, that should be a lesson to learn as well. Often times, we get wrapped up in what others think and do, so it's important to take a step back and focus on how you feel on your own.
It's important to recognize your inherent value and be proud of it. This will allow others to see you the way you see yourself. Once you begin to feel better about yourself, you will find that you're able to make changes to improve things for the better. And when you've finally achieved that, you'll find that your respect for yourself will increase, which will lead to more dignity and self-worth.
Human dignity is something that's inherent to all of us. It's built into us at birth, so it's impossible to gain it through socialization or being taught. When we were children, our parents didn't yell or demand that we feel unworthy because of who we are. They simply gave us the tools and encouragement to help us rise above it. Today, that same opportunity is available to everyone, but most of us choose to keep it suppressed, hiding away instead of enjoying it.
In order to feel dignified, it has to be natural. If it isn't, it will be temporarily lost. It can be brought back by becoming who you are. By working hard, by loving and respecting yourself, you can gain all the dignity you ever wanted.
It doesn't have to be about clothing, food, shelter, car keys, etc. You don't have to be super rich or have the world's best education. You can be poor and still live a decent life. Just because you have less money than someone else, it doesn't mean you're lacking in dignity. What it does mean is that you have the ability to care for yourself and to live your life to its fullest.
Dignity is all about how you treat yourself. It's the quality of who you are. By respecting yourself, you will no longer be depressed when times are hard or feeling discouraged. You will feel empowered instead.