“Being assertive means being able to have your needs met while still interacting with great sensitivity to those around you.”

—Greg Harden — Late American Performance Coach

Image from Unsplash by Karina Lago

Being assertive is not becoming louder, it’s about becoming clearer.

Most of us were trained to abandon our needs to avoid rocking the boat. Then we resent the very people we’ve silently trained to overlook us.

Assertiveness is the rebellion against that quiet self-betrayal. It says, “My needs matter too — and I am determined to voice them without crushing yours.”

When you speak up with calm strength, you don’t become selfish; you become honest.

You stop leaking frustration in sighs, sarcasm, and nuance. You start negotiation, not manipulating.

Being assertive is the radical act of standing firmly in your truth while keeping your heart open to the truths of others.

EXERCISE:

In what ways can you apply being assertive in a new light?

How would doing so help you better advocate for your beliefs and needs while still being sensitive to those around you?