Assertiveness is a communication skill. When you are an assertive communicator, you will be less likely to avoid standing up for your rights and more likely to support other people’s rights too. You tend to see everyone around you as equals so you feel confident when you communicate with them because you’re not trying to impress them or build them up. You know how to be respectful while delivering your messages successfully.
- Reduce Stress – When you feel as if you cannot properly communicate your desires or intentions to those around you, it can cause a lot of stress. When you learn to say no, or yes, and what you mean at the time you mean it, the stress will fade away.
- Improve Communication Skills – Communicating assertively does not mean that you should be aggressive or rude. Instead, it means that you should consider your audience and use the words, phrases, and emotions that they understand so that they really get your message.
- Increase Self-Image – Just by learning how to speak up about anything when you need to in a confident manner, you’re going to improve your self-esteem. It will increase because you feel better about yourself for stating your truth, and it’s also going to increase because other people are going to view you differently.
- Decrease Judgement – When you know how to be more assertive, you’re also usually more empathetic to not only yourself but also other people. That means you judge yourself less and judge them less.
- End Resentment and Anger – Poor communication or feeling as if you cannot tell people what you think and want can breed resentment, which can make you very angry. When you learn to state your truth without shame, that will end.
- Build More Honest Relationships – When your friends and family truly know who you are because you communicate with them properly, you’re simply going to be closer to them. The relationships will be more open and honest and fulfilling because of it.
- Gain More Satisfaction from Life – When it’s possible for you to tell others what you think and want and need without shame, you’re simply going to enjoy a more satisfactory life. This is mostly due to the fact that you’re going to get more of what you want and need because you state it.
- Make Better Decisions – When you have learned to communicate more assertively, you will also be able to make better decisions overall. When you make better choices, you have better outcomes in life, which can also improve your mental health.
Working on being more assertive will help you reduce stress and end anger, resentment, and other problems that are often associated with aggressive (or passive-aggressive) behavior and poor communication skills. You can improve your mental health simply by improving your assertive communication techniques. Use more “I” statements, say no when you need to, and practice saying what you need to say in a respectful, confident manner.
