The Dignity of Presentability in the Face of Uncertainty

You can’t control the world—but you can control your reaction to it

A home cannot stand without a foundation. Such is true for many aspects of our lives: a society cannot survive without a government, a tree cannot survive without its roots, and a person cannot survive without belief.

The subject of where one chooses to center their belief is—of course—up to personal choice, and everyone has found their own foundation for belief. Many center their lives around a belief in success. Others find solace in a belief in the good nature of others, or perhaps, in God. My own center of belief is personal dignity—and I’d like to explain why.

The most important part of my day is when I choose my clothes every morning. It seems innocuous enough, or even inconsequential. But to me, it’s crucial to my personal philosophy and my belief in personal dignity. It marks the point where I’m ready to begin my new day, to brush off the last vestiges of somnolence, shake off my pajamas, and embrace the waking world in proper clothing.

Self-dignity, in this instance, is the notion that although the world around me may be a mess of entropic chaos, I can have pride in my appearance and my presentability—that’s one of the few precious things in life I have control over. If I let that aspect of command slip out of my fingers into the gaping maw of indolence, then I have voluntarily relinquished a unique part of myself to infinite, uncontrollable chaos.

So I keep my own appearance and the ability to wield it close to my heart. After all, if I were unable to maintain my personal appearance—a factor of my life I can control—how could I be ready for the rest of the world, full of factors I have no control over? Self-dignity is about striving to make myself the best person I can be, because—well, I can. Because that’s something I have physical, tangible autonomy over, and no one can take that power from me. My own personal dignity is indelibly inscribed into my fingers and my heart, and only I can look within to trace their words and live by them.

There’s a sort of comfort to be found in the notion that although the world promised order and instead delivered chaos, you kept up your end of the bargain. After all, the world only sees what you show it. So present your best self to the world, and let that radiant image of yourself become who you are. Let that best self be the strong pillar that stands against the wind, instead of a lesser visage of yourself that crumbles before the storm.

Dress well for the world, and present your finest self in firm readiness for the chaos of society. Stand straight with your head held high, for if you don’t see promise in yourself, who will? Strive to become someone you would be proud to call yourself and realize that ideal in your life. Take command of your own appearance, because how can you change the world if you can’t change your own self?

Again, everything I’ve written here is nothing more than my own personal beliefs. How you choose to live your life is a decision that can be made only by yourself. And if you have your own foundation of belief that suits your life, by all means, wear it upon your arm and live gloriously. But should you feel as if you’re stumbling into classes and into life as someone less than who you could be, perhaps spend a little more time choosing your clothes in the morning. Take some time to think about the person you want to present to the world, and if you would be proud to call that person you.

In an ever-changing world of uncontrollable chaos, the only governable constant is your own self. While your circle of friends may fluctuate and your relationship with others may shift, your ability to govern your own actions will never waver. It is that conviction that is the foundation of my personal system of belief, and it is that foundation that serves to shape my approach to the world. In spite of whatever newfound adversity I may face with each passing day, I take comfort in knowing that I can be steadfast in my approach to it.

The simple fact is—your own dignity is yours to forge and wield into the great arena of life, and no one can take that from you.