EXPRESS YOURSELF BY BEING ASSERTIVE part 3

HOW TO BE ASSERTIVE

Therefore, improving your self-esteem will help you to be more assertive. Similarly, the positive outcomes from taking the risk to act assertively will help to boost your belief in yourself and boost your self-esteem.

Overall, thinking positively about being assertive makes it easier to actually be assertive. We can increase our ability to communicate in an assertive manner by replacing our non-assertive messages (self-talk) with messages that support assertive behavior, such as:
• I have the right to be assertive
• I deserve to make choices that support me
• All my feelings are valid
• I have the right to say no
• I do no have to offer excuses for my choices or behaviors
• I have the right to ask to have my needs met

What are three positive beliefs that would support you being assertive? Look back at the three negative beliefs you listed above for ideas. Try changing them into positive statements.

It takes time and practice to change our communication style and become more assertive. By recognizing which of our old beliefs keep us non-assertive, challenging them and then replacing them with new beliefs that support us being assertive, we can increase the likelihood of us initiating and maintaining a new assertive and confident style of communication.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• EXPRESS YOURSELF BY BEING ASSERTIVE part 1
• EXPRESS YOURSELF BY BEING ASSERTIVE part 2/ FACTORS LIMITING YOU FROM BEING ASSERTIVE

Authored by Barbara Small She has a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology and is also trained as a Life Coach.