In my therapy groups, people often talk about being assertive, including setting limits and saying “no” to things they don’t want to do.
Because I’ve had to be compliant with many medical treatments (including yucky medication and surgery) since I was very young, being assertive can sometimes feel unfamiliar and even dangerous. At the same time, there have been times when not being assertive has been dangerous — like when I informed doctors that I thought my pacemaker was failing and was told that I was just anxious and to forget about it (and my pacemaker was failing).
This week I’ve been being assertive with an anticoagulant nurse and also a music distribution service. I’m also being assertive with myself by telling myself it’s okay to be assertive.
My husband Michael has a bit he does about being assertive. He’ll tell me a story about a situation where he spoke up assertively and when I ask if he really said that, he replies, “No, what I really said was ‘here’s my ass.’”
Is anyone being assertive in my images for today?
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Here’s what I find when I search for “being assertive” on YouTube:
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What does being assertive mean to you?
Thanks to all who help me in being assertive, including YOU!
