The Dignity Lab

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

In this distilled episode from season 1 of The Dignity Lab, Dr. Rachel Thienprayoon and host Dr. Jennifer Griggs discuss the importance of compassion and dignity in the workplace. Dr. Thienprayoon explains the concept of suffering and how it can be mitigated through organizational compassion. Dr. Thienprayoon also highlights the impact of toxic behavior and the need for compassionate leadership that responds to bullying and other behaviors. She emphasizes the connection between compassion and dignity and the role of both in creating a thriving workforce. The conversation concludes with a discussion on changing the narrative around productivity and the importance of self-care.

Guest Contact

• LinkedIn Profile

Episode Resources

• Unlocking Us with Brene Brown: Chris Germer
• Operationalizing Compassionate Connected Care: A path to improved workforce engagement and patient outcomes
• Experiences of Care: Reducing Suffering through Compassionate, Connected Care-Christy Dempsey
• More information about Christina Maslach

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 of The Dignity Lab features an interview with Tess Carichner, a senior honors nursing student at the University of Michigan who is minoring in disability studies and global health. Tess is the founder of Disability Justice @ Michigan and lead editor of the anthology Accessing Disability Culture. Tess discusses her work in disability health equity and disability justice. She shares her personal experiences growing up in an inter-abled family and her perspective on disability as an identity. The conversation covers various aspects of disability, including visible and invisible disabilities, the importance of dignity in healthcare, and the challenges faced by the disability community.

Takeaways

• Disability is a dynamic and diverse concept that includes physical disabilities, neurodivergence, and chronic illnesses.
• Dignity in disability healthcare involves preserving autonomy, self-determination, and recognizing the importance of individuals' needs.
• Diagnostic overshadowing can lead to healthcare providers dismissing concerns of disabled patients, emphasizing the need for comprehensive primary care.
• Visible and invisible disabilities present different challenges in terms of disclosure, accommodations, and societal perceptions.
• Disability justice involves cross-disability solidarity, representation, and challenging ableist systems.
• The anthology Accessing Disability Culture provides a platform for disabled students to share their experiences and create representation.
• Intersectionality is crucial in understanding the compounded effects of multiple axes of oppression on disabled individuals.
• Non-disabled people can contribute to combating ableism by recognizing the humanity of disabled individuals and creating inclusive communities

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 imposter phenomenon, a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their skills and fear being exposed as frauds. She discusses its origins, consequences, and offers strategies to overcome these feelings, emphasizing the importance of belonging, intellectual humility, radical acceptance, and recognizing one's whole self beyond accomplishments.

Takeaways

• The imposter phenomenon affects up to 80% of people.
• It is a cognitive distortion rather than a mental health issue.
• The phenomenon can lead to anxiety, depression, and burnout.
• Belonging practices are crucial to overcoming imposter feelings.
• Intellectual humility involves recognizing our knowledge limitations.
• Radical acceptance means embracing ourselves as we are.
• We should not define ourselves solely by our work or status.
• Positive feedback can feel like proof of deception.
• We can combat imposter feelings by fostering community and support.
• Recognizing our whole selves can help mitigate feelings of fraud.

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 concept of purpose, addressing common objections and misconceptions. She emphasizes the importance of understanding one's purpose as a guiding framework for life and leadership. Jennifer discusses what purpose is not, highlighting the distinction between purpose and career, and offers practical advice on how to identify personal purpose. The conversation concludes with a reminder that purpose can extend beyond work and the importance of revisiting it regularly.

Episode Resources

• Meaningful Work: A Quest to do Great Business, Find Your Calling, and Feed Your Soul by Shawn Askinosie

Takeaways

• Purpose provides direction, meaning, and significance in life.
• Knowing your purpose can help navigate opportunities and distractions.
• Purpose is not limited to career or job titles.
• Your purpose should not restrict your present experiences.
• Identifying purpose involves understanding your core values and strengths.
• Heartbreak can guide you to discover your purpose.
• Purpose statements should be broad and inclusive, not limiting.
• You can have multiple purposes in different areas of life.
• Revisiting your purpose regularly ensures alignment with your values.
• Sometimes, simply getting through challenges can be a purpose.

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.

Mary Heinen McPherson, a survivor of domestic violence, shares her experiences with the injustices of the prison system and the role of art in reclaiming dignity. She advocates for incarcerated people and prison reform, using her own experiences to support formerly incarcerated individuals. Mary discusses the power of art, theater, and writing in healing and returning home. She emphasizes the importance of reclaiming dignity through advocacy, activism, and retelling one's own story. The conversation explores themes of justice, freedom, power, healing, and the violation and reclamation of dignity.

Episode Resources

• More about Mary Heinen
• Adolescent Maturity and the Brain: The Promise and Pitfalls of Neuroscience Research in Adolescent Health Policy
• Augusto Boal was heavily influenced by Paulo Freire's educational philosophy, especially his seminal work "Pedagogy of the Oppressed."
• More about Buzz Alexander
• More about the Prison Creative Arts Program
• PCAP’s Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing

Takeaways

• Art, including theater and writing, plays a crucial role in reclaiming dignity and healing from the harms of the prison system.
• Advocacy and activism are essential in addressing the injustices and disparities within the correctional system.
• Reclaiming dignity involves retelling one's own story and becoming the subject rather than the object of harm.
• The power of art lies in making the invisible visible and creating freedom through movement and expression.

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 brief update, Vanessa Aron steps in for host Jennifer Griggs, who is taking the week off to recover from an illness. Vanessa reminds us that even doctors need to take a break and practice self-compassion. She encourages listeners to embrace self-kindness and suggests using this time to catch up on past episodes or revisit favorites.

Takeaways:

• Be kind and compassionate to yourself, especially during challenging times.
• Use this week as an opportunity to catch up on The Dignity Lab episodes.

Call to Action:
Take a moment to show yourself some self-compassion this week. If you’re new to the podcast, dive into past episodes or revisit a favorite. We’ll be back next week with more thought-provoking discussions.

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 discusses the importance of core values and how they provide direction in decision-making and shaping one's life. She provides strategies for identifying core values, such as telling stories of peak experiences and thinking about people you admire. Jennifer also emphasizes the need to choose a limited number of core values and to nurture and revisit them regularly. She highlights the obstacles to living out core values, including a lack of clarity, lack of alignment with others, and external pressures. Jennifer concludes by encouraging listeners to reflect on their own values and consider revisiting them regularly.

Episode Resources

• Byrtek, G. J., & Dickerson, M. (2013). Actualizing organizational core values: Putting theory into practice. Business Management Dynamics, 3(2), 7-25.
• Lencioni, P. M. (2002). Make your values mean something. Harvard Business Review, 80(7), 113-117.
• Longenecker, P. D. (2013). The Positive Impact of Individual Core Values. Journal of Business Ethics, 115(3), 429-434.

Key Takeaways

• Core values are guiding principles that reflect what is most important to you and provide direction in decision-making.
• Strategies for identifying core values include telling stories of peak experiences and thinking about people you admire.
• Choose a limited number of core values and nurture and revisit them regularly.
• Obstacles to living out core values include a lack of clarity, alignment with others, and external pressures.

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.

Self-compassion is being open to and moved by one's own suffering, experiencing feelings of caring and kindness towards oneself, and taking an understanding, non-judgmental attitude towards one's inadequacies and failures.

Self-compassion has three main components: self-kindness, recognizing our common humanity, and mindfulness. It reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, improves emotional resilience and coping skills, enhances motivation and personal growth, promotes healthier behaviors and well-being, and provides a more stable sense of worth. It increases our capacity for compassion towards others, improves relationship quality, reduces burnout, and enhances the ability to take responsibility for our mistakes and repair relationships.

In this episode, Jennifer describes practices to develop self-compassion, responds to objections people may have with the word self-compassion, and shares a meditation listeners might find helpful for themselves or others.
 
Resources

• Center for Mindful Self-Compassion
• Online self-compassion course
• Self-Compassion: Theory, Method, Research, and Intervention
• What is compassion and how can we measure it? A review of definitions and measures
• The influence of self-compassion on emotional well-being among early and older adolescent males and females
• Self-Compassion, a poem by James Crews

Key Takeaways

Self-compassion

• involves treating ourselves with kindness, understanding, and acceptance.
• has three main components: self-kindness, recognizing our common humanity, and mindfulness.
• reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, improves emotional resilience and coping skills, enhances motivation and personal growth, promotes healthier behaviors and well-being, and provides a more stable sense of worth.
• increases our capacity for compassion towards others, improves relationship quality and support for others, reduces burnout, and enhances the ability to take responsibility for our mistakes and repair relationships.
• involves self-kindness, recognizing shared experiences, practicing mindfulness, and using self-compassion meditations.
• is not self-pity, self-indulgence, selfishness, weakness, or vulnerability.

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.

Welcome back to The Dignity Lab. This Labor Day, as we celebrate the dignity of work and workers, we’re replaying a vital conversation with Dr. Donna Hicks, an expert on the inherent value we all possess.

Dr. Donna Hicks, an expert on dignity, discusses the concept of dignity and its role in conflicts. She defines dignity as our inherent value and worth as human beings and describes how vulnerable our dignity is to violations. Dr. Hicks describes her research on the elements of dignity. She emphasizes the importance of treating others with dignity and the power of connection and love in human relationships. Dr. Hicks also explores the impact of power on dignity and the need for leaders to understand and honor the dignity of their followers. She concludes by discussing the potential for personal growth and healing through the recognition and restoration of dignity.

Whether you're a new listener or revisiting this episode, join us in reflecting on the dignity inherent in our work and in ourselves. Share your thoughts and any new understandings with us at thedignitylab.org. Enjoy this special Labor Day replay.

Guest Contact

• Website
• LinkedIn Profile
• X Profile

Episode Resources

• Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict by Donna Hicks
• Leading with Dignity: How to Create Culture That Brings Out the Best in People by Donna Hicks

Takeaways

• Dignity is our inherent value and worth as human beings, as well as our vulnerability to having that dignity violated.
• The 10 elements of dignity include identity, recognition, inclusion, acknowledgement, safety, fairness, independence, hope, understanding, and accountability.
• Treating others with dignity is essential for creating positive and meaningful connections in relationships.
• Leaders have a responsibility to understand and honor the dignity of their followers, as well as create policies that uphold dignity.
• Recognizing and restoring dignity can lead to personal growth, healing, and the development of effective relationships at work and loving and connected relationships in our lives and in our world.

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.

Hannah McNaughton discusses the importance of creating a culture of joy and the impact of dignity in the workplace. She shares her personal journey of overcoming self-doubt and the influence of her upbringing in shaping her beliefs. Hannah emphasizes the need for self-respect and self-care as the foundation for giving dignity to others. She also explores the essential ingredients of joy in the workplace and the dangers of sacrificing oneself for the sake of others. 

Hannah highlights the importance of silence and self-reflection in finding one's purpose and aligning with it. She discusses the balance between humility and self-promotion, focusing on authenticity and serving others. Hannah emphasizes the importance of co-creating with clients and building relationships based on shared values. She challenges societal messages of materialism and competition, advocating instead for a mindset of abundance and giving. In this conversation, Hannah discusses the importance of questioning the beliefs and values instilled upon us and finding our own authentic selves. She emphasizes the need to be open to different ideas and perspectives, allowing ourselves to grow and evolve. She encourages listeners to seek joy, wisdom, and their own unique purpose in life.

Takeaways

• Creating a culture of joy in the workplace is essential for personal and professional growth.
• Self-respect and self-care are crucial for giving dignity to others.
  Silence and self-reflection are powerful tools for finding one's purpose and aligning with it.
• Balancing humility and self-promotion requires authenticity and a focus on serving others.
• Co-creating with clients and building relationships based on shared values leads to meaningful work.
• Challenging societal messages of materialism and competition allows for a mindset of abundance and giving. Question the beliefs and values instilled upon you and determine what truly aligns with your authentic self.
• Be open to different ideas and perspectives, allowing yourself to grow and evolve.
• Create a joyful and authentic work environment where people can be themselves and feel valued.
• Seek joy, wisdom, and your own unique purpose in life.

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.