The Dignity Lab

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

Summary

In this dose of Dignity, Jennifer explores how power operates in everyday work, family, and community life, emphasizing that power itself is not inherently bad but is the capacity to influence what happens, whose voice counts, and what becomes possible. Drawing on Mary Parker Follett, French and Raven, and Dacher Keltner, she distinguishes “power over” from “power with,” describes multiple forms of power (formal, relational, expertise-based, structural, and moral), and introduces the “power paradox” where empathy-based influence can erode as people feel more powerful. Through concrete leadership examples and a personal power inventory, she invites listeners to reclaim underused power and restrain overused power so that their influence becomes a force for dignity, trust, and shared agency. 

Takeaways

• Power is the capacity to influence what happens, whose voice is heard, and what resources move, and it can be used to either protect dignity or erode it.
• Ethical “power with” is created together and focuses on the needs of the situation, while coercive “power over” seeks to control people.
• We hold many forms of power, often more than we recognize, including formal, relational, expertise-based, structural, and moral power.
• The “power paradox” shows that as people feel more powerful, they may listen less, read emotions less accurately, and tilt decisions toward their own preferences.
• Dignity-centered leadership asks not whether we have power but how our power feels to others and what story it tells about their worth.
• A personal power inventory can reveal where we are reclaiming helpful influence and where we may be unintentionally causing harm.
• Reclaiming and restraining power turns influence into a force for good.

References and Resources

• Follett, M. P. (1924). Creative experience. Longmans, Green and Co.
• Follett, M. P. (1941). Dynamic administration: The collected papers of Mary Parker Follett (H. C. Metcalf & L. Urwick, Eds.). Harper & Brothers. (Original works published 1918–1933).
• French, J. R. P., Jr., & Raven, B. (1959). The bases of social power. In D. Cartwright (Ed.), Studies in social power (pp. 150–167). University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research.
• Keltner, D. (2016). The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence. Penguin Press.
• Raven, B. H. (1992). A power/interaction model of interpersonal influence: French and Raven twenty years later. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 7(2), 217–244.

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

This season is for you if you’ve ever wondered why dignity can feel so simple in theory and so complicated in real life. It’s for you if you’ve found yourself navigating power, conflict, communication, leadership, or relationships where there isn’t always a clear right answer.

In Season 6 of The Dignity Lab, we’re thickening our understanding of dignity. We’ll explore the ways dignity shows up, gets complicated, and takes shape across our relationships, workplaces, communities, and inner lives.

Through short “Doses of Dignity” and conversations with guests, Dr. Jennifer Griggs looks more closely at the forces that influence how we honor, violate, protect, and reclaim dignity.

In this season, we take a deeper look at:

• Power and the role it plays in honoring or violating dignity
• The dreaded drama triangle and how we can step out of familiar patterns of rescuing, blaming, and powerlessness
• How to communicate with dignity, especially when conversations are difficult
• Self-leadership and the ways our own choices shape how we show up with others
• How dignity continues to unfold over time in our lives, relationships, and work

You’ll also hear conversations with Dr. Pinki Prasad about breaking free from the drama triangle; Dr. Rachel Thienprayoon, returning from Season 1 to reflect on how dignity continues to unfold in her life at home and at work; and Dr. Lisa Bailey, whose award-winning essay explores a pivotal moment when a leader had her back.

Season 6 invites us to move beyond simple definitions and easy answers, making room for the complexity, tension, and possibility that emerge when we take dignity seriously.

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this conversation on The Dignity Lab, guest host and neonatologist Dr. Staci Olister brings together trauma-informed care expert Mary Coughlin and host Dr. Jennifer Griggs to explore how trauma and dignity are deeply intertwined in healthcare and beyond. They trace the evolution of trauma from a narrow focus on physical injury to a broader, lived experience that overwhelms a person’s capacity to cope. They define dignity as our inherent, unearned worth—no more and no less than anyone else’s—and extend this to organizations, non-human animals, and the Earth itself.

Dignity violations—exclusion, humiliation, lack of safety, medical gaslighting, and structural injustice—are at the root of much of the trauma experienced by patients and clinicians. Mary describes how we can “build the buffering” for people in overwhelming situations, rather than only “summing up the suffering.” Jennifer offers a pathway for reclaiming dignity: naming a dignity violation, affirming a person’s worth, seeking accountability and repair where possible, and shifting from “me” (the one to whom something happened) to “I” (the agent/creator) and ultimately to “Thou,” seeing the sacred dignity in others, including those who have harmed us.

They also address shame as an emotion that thrives in silence and secrecy. They examine how dehumanizing language, hierarchical culture, business models of productivity, and electronic health records can undermine trauma-informed, dignity-centered care. The episode closes with an invitation to join Mary and Jennifer for an immersive, trauma-informed, dignity-centered retreat in Ireland, focused on embodied leadership, radical listening, reflective writing, and nervous system regulation.

Takeaways

• Trauma is a lived experience that touches body, mind, spirit, and community
• Dignity is our inherent, unearned worth, extending to humans, organizations, and the Earth
• Trauma and dignity violations are interwoven in healthcare and beyond
• Trauma-informed care principles are practical ways to enact dignity in everyday practice
• Shame and secrecy fuel systemic disconnection in healthcare cultures
• Patients, families, and clinicians are routinely exposed to everyday dignity violations
• We reclaim dignity by naming harm, affirming worth, and seeking accountability and repair
• Healing involves shifting from “me” to “I” to “Thou” in our stories and leadership
• Dehumanizing language, business models, and electronic records can quietly erode dignity
• Presence, noticing, and community are foundations for meaningful cultural change

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this episode, Jennifer and Vanessa deepen their conversation on healing from past hurts, exploring forgiveness, the importance of bodily awareness, and the journey from victimhood to creator. They share personal stories, insights from their season of solo episodes, and tease upcoming season themes on dignity.

Main Topics Covered

• The role of forgiveness and its alternatives in healing
• Recognizing and honoring emotions in the forgiveness process
• Bodily awareness as a tool for understanding readiness to forgive
• The significance of physical reactions like lying on the floor as part of emotional processing
• Shifting from victim to creator: acknowledging participation and reclaiming dignity
• The metaphor of calling back one’s dignity as a hawk
• The importance of positive emotions like hope and joy in healing
• Navigating the complex process of forgiveness across different ages and circumstances

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

This episode explores what comes after the work of healing, how to decide whether to renew or release a relationship with someone who caused harm. Jennifer walks through both paths, emphasizing that forgiveness does not require staying connected and that this decision is deeply personal.

Renewal means creating a new relationship grounded in clarity, boundaries, and mutual capacity, not returning to what was. Release, on the other hand, is a conscious choice to free yourself from emotional ties to the person, even without apology or closure. The episode also acknowledges that feeling stuck is a natural part of the process and offers alternative paths forward, including dignity-based healing, acceptance, advocacy, and restorative justice.

The core message: there is no single “right” next step, only the one that honors your dignity and allows you to move forward with intention.

Takeaways

•  After healing, you can renew or release the relationship. 
•  Forgiveness does not require continued connection. 
•  Renewal means creating a new relationship, not returning to the old one. 
•  Renewal requires clarity, boundaries, vulnerability, and mutual capacity. 
•  Release means freeing yourself from emotional ties—not avoidance. 
•  You can release even without apology, contact, or closure. 
•  You can renew internally, even if the person is gone. 
•  If you still feel intense anger or pain, more healing may be needed before release. 
•  Feeling stuck is normal—healing is not linear. 
• Alternatives to forgiveness include dignity, acceptance, advocacy, and justice.

Resources

• The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World by Desmond Tutu
• Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict by Donna Hicks
• The Principles of Psychology (1890) by William James

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

This episode explores what it means to reclaim your dignity after harm—without requiring forgiveness, apology, or explanation. Jennifer shares her own profound shift in thinking about healing after harm.

Healing comes from reclaiming your role as the subject of your story, rather than remaining the object of what was done to you. Reclaiming dignity means remembering your worth, releasing unhelpful patterns, and choosing how you want to move forward, independent of others’ actions.

The core message: your dignity is unearned and non-negotiable. Healing begins when you stop waiting for others to repair what was broken and instead choose to lead your life from your own worth, values, and agency.

Takeaways

•  Dignity is inherent—it doesn’t need to be earned. 
•  Healing doesn’t require forgiveness or apology. 
•  Looking to others to affirm your worth keeps you stuck. 
•  Common reactions (blame, gossip, victimhood) block healing. 
•  Staying in the victim role limits growth. 
•  Shift from “this happened to me” → “what do I choose next?” 
•  This doesn’t excuse harm or abandon justice. 
•  Letting go of others’ limitations creates freedom. 
•  Lead from your true self—calm, clear, compassionate. 
•  Reclaiming dignity = choosing your next chapter.

Resources

• Christian Cooper, Better Living through Birding

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

This short episode explores "The Impossible Question": Why did they do it? Jennifer discusses why people universally seek reasons after experiencing harm, how this search can deepen emotional disorganization or shame, and why answers often do not heal. The core message: understanding others' motivations rarely brings resolution, since even those who inflicted harm may not fully grasp their own actions. Healing comes from letting go of the need to know why and shifting focus to recognizing unmet needs—both in ourselves and others.

Takeaways

• When harmed, most people instinctively ask "Why?" as a way to make meaning and organize their experience.
• Not getting answers often triggers shame or confusion about one’s worth.
• The search for motivation rarely helps—explanations, if available, don’t resolve pain and can leave us feeling worse.
  Many people, including those who cause harm, are unaware of their true motivations in the moment; naming deeper needs is often challenging.
• Unmet needs—belonging, recognition, control, contribution, safety—often drive behavior, though the strategies to meet them may be unskillful and hurtful.
• Accepting that you may never know why, and that the person who caused harm may not know either, helps release the grip of the impossible question.
• Moving forward in healing involves shifting the focus from seeking reasons to accepting unmet needs and letting go.

Listeners are encouraged to share this episode and explore additional resources on universal needs at www.thedignitylab.com.

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

Jennifer explores the benefits of forgiveness on emotional, psychological, physical, and organizational health. She discusses the neural changes associated with forgiveness. She also shares her personal experience with forgiveness on her health. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding forgiveness as a process rather than a one-time event, highlighting both its potential benefits and limitations.

• Forgiveness is associated with reduced anger, depression, and improved self-esteem.
• Meta-analyses show that forgiveness interventions can improve emotional wellbeing.
• Chronic pain and physical conditions may be alleviated through forgiveness interventions.
• Forgiveness helps manage emotions.
• Organizational forgiveness can enhance trust and productivity.
• Cultural factors can influence the effectiveness of forgiveness interventions.

The Body

• Toussaint et al. 2016
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-012-9441-2
• Jennifer P Friedberg, et al. The effects of forgiveness on cardiovascular reactivity and recovery. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2009.
• Lee, Enright, & Song 2014
  https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000025

Mental Health

• Akhtar & Barlow 2021
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27009829/
• Worthington 2024
  https://doi.org/10.1080/00207284.2024.2340593

Organizations

• Wenrui Cao, et al. Forgiveness in the workplace: A longitudinal study of forgiveness climate and work outcomes. Frontiers in Psychology, 2021.
• Gelfand & Baumeister 2012
  https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2010.0497
• Cameron & Caza 2003
  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/107179190200900103

Neuroscience

• Xiaoyan Li, et al. Trait forgiveness is associated with resting-state functional connectivity of the default mode network. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2017.
• Strang et al. 2014
  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087654
• Neural mechanisms review 2022
  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087654
• Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Neural mechanisms of forgiveness: A review. 2022

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this episode of the Dignity Lab, Jennifer explores the complex relationship between pain and positive emotions. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging difficult emotions while also cultivating positive feelings such as love, joy, and gratitude. Through a discussion of ten specific positive emotions, you will gain some practical strategies to nurture these feelings, even in the aftermath of hurt. The episode encourages a balanced emotional landscape, where both pain and positivity coexist, ultimately supporting healing and resilience.

Takeaways

• Growing positive emotions alongside your hurt is essential.
• This episode is not about positive thinking or toxic positivity.
• We can plant tiny shoots of life in the middle of the ashes.
• Positive emotions need tending in a world of harm.
• Emotions are automatic reactions; feelings are our interpretations.
• Positive emotions broaden our perspective and build resilience.
• Love can be felt for people, pets, or even nature.
• Joy can exist even in hardship; it's about recognizing it.
• Gratitude can start with noticing small things going right.
• Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself, not others.

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.

Join the dialogue - text your questions, insights, and feedback to The Dignity Lab podcast.

In this conversation, Jennifer Griggs discusses the significance of naming emotions in the healing process, emphasizing how it aids in emotional recovery and allows individuals to explore deeper feelings that may have been suppressed.

Takeaways

• The literature on forgiveness highlights the importance of naming emotions.
• Naming emotions with precision is crucial for healing.
• Alexithymia, a common condition, can make naming and processing emotions more difficult.
• Understanding our emotional experience can lead to better mental health.
• Digging deeper into our feelings can reveal suppressed emotions.
• The process of forgiveness is intertwined with emotional awareness.
• Emotional healing requires a comprehensive understanding of our feelings.
• The journey of healing often involves confronting uncomfortable emotions.

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

The Dignity Lab is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will receive 10% of the purchase price when you click through and make a purchase. This supports our production and hosting costs. Bookshop.org doesn’t earn money off bookstore sales, all profits go to independent bookstores. We encourage our listeners to purchase books through Bookshop.org for this reason.