Learn about the importance of assertiveness during the holidays and how it promotes healthy communication. Discover why some struggle with assertiveness and how to develop and practice it. Hear personal experiences and understand the impact of assertiveness on relationships. Explore how assertiveness can manage stress and maintain positive relationships during the holiday season. Find out how assertiveness brings joy and healing in recovery journeys.
Being assertive is not aggressive, but a way to clearly communicate needs in order to navigate challenging situations in relationships.
Practicing assertiveness promotes personal growth, establishes healthy boundaries, and prevents unhealthy behaviors in recovery and healing.
Deep dives
The Value of Being Assertive
Being assertive is not aggressive or rude. It is the ability to communicate our thoughts and feelings calmly and clearly. By practicing assertiveness, we can let our voice be heard in appropriate ways, fostering personal growth and healthy relationships. Being assertive helps establish healthy boundaries and enables us to effectively communicate our needs and expectations. It is an important skill in recovery and healing, as it prevents the discomfort and unresolved emotions that lead to unhealthy behaviors. Assertiveness promotes intimacy, knowing and being known, and strengthens marriages, families, and friendships.
Understanding Assertiveness
Assertiveness is not aggressive or forward, but a self-assured and confident way of expressing ourselves without being aggressive. It is the ability to communicate our thoughts, feelings, and expectations calmly and clearly, while respecting the thoughts and feelings of others. Being assertive allows for open dialogue and healthy growth in relationships, as it fosters mutual understanding and respect. It is a learned behavior that helps us establish healthy boundaries and promotes emotional intelligence and effective communication.
Practicing Assertiveness
Practicing assertiveness can be done with safe individuals and in safe environments. Examples include practicing assertiveness at restaurants by communicating preferences or dietary needs with confidence and respect. It is also helpful to communicate assertively with family during the holiday season, expressing needs and setting boundaries to create healthy change and prevent unnecessary stress. Role-playing assertiveness with trusted individuals can also aid in developing this skill. Practicing assertiveness in specific areas of life helps protect against unhealthy behaviors and fosters personal growth.
The Impact of Assertiveness
Choosing to be assertive during the holiday season has numerous benefits for ourselves and our relationships. Assertiveness allows us to avoid merely 'getting through' the holidays and instead actively engage in creating a more fulfilling and enjoyable time. It strengthens relationships by fostering open communication, understanding, and mutual respect. Being assertive helps break unhealthy patterns that may have been present in our families of origin, allowing us to speak our truth and build healthy connection with our loved ones. By being assertive, we contribute to a more joyful and authentic holiday season.
The holidays are packed with clashing expectations in relationships. Assertiveness is one of the tools we can use to navigate these challenging situations. Being assertive doesn’t mean being aggressive—it simply means clearly communicating your needs to others. In this episode, Heather Kolb joins us to discuss how to be assertive, the benefits of being assertive about your needs, and how to navigate the moments when someone might respond negatively.