assertiveness vs. passivity

I feel like I am often not as assertive as I should be. And it leaves me feeling... resentful. 

At first blush, Nice Guys seem like saints. They appear generous, flexible, and extremely polite. But if you scratch beneath the surface, you’ll often find a helpless, anxious, and resentful core… 

That's from a good article from The Art of Manliness, Quit Being a Pushover: How to Be Assertive

They argue:

When you’re assertive, you are direct and honest with people. You don’t beat around the bush or expect people to read your mind about what you want. If something is bothering you, you speak up; if you want or need something, you ask. You do all this while maintaining a calm and civil demeanor.

The article gives some good tips on how to stop being passive, or worse passive-aggressive.  


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