Valuing individuality
Individuality is a characteristic of all living beings on both a material and a spiritual level. Every living being is a separate and uniquely distinct individual.
Individuality is present on three levels:
- Your physical appearance such as height, weight, facial features, and other observable attributes. Each person has a unique physical appearance, influenced by genetics, environmental factors, and personal choices. This individuality allows for diversity and distinguishes one person from another in terms of their outward presentation.
- Individuality goes beyond the physical and includes the mind, intelligence, and ego. It includes your thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and personality traits.
- The spiritual identity is about who you are deep down. Your eternal self or soul. It is different for everyone.
Responding to the needs of a separate and unique person is an everyday issue.
Carl Rogers explores and defines respect in the following way in his book, Client-Centred Therapy (1951):
‘Do we see each person as having worth and dignity in his own right?rnrnIf we do hold this point of view at the verbal level, to what extent is it operationally evident at the behavioural level?rnrnDo we tend to treat individuals as persons of worth, or do we subtly devaluate them by our attitudes and behaviour?rnrnIs our philosophy one in which respect for the individual is uppermost?rnrnDo we respect his capacity and right to self-direction, or do we basically believe that his life would be best guided by us?’
Consider more:
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