Assertiveness training : Know what is assertive behaviour!
Behaviour is classified into three types i.e A) Passive B) Aggressive C) Assertive.
A) Passive behaviour : Giving up your rights; suppressing your wants; Doing only "Shoulds" and "Should nots"; Feeling being pushed around or manipulated all the time; suppressed anger. All these cause low self- esteem.
E.g - A housewife getting up at 5 a. m and sleeping at 11 p. m. Without any rest in between. Passive behaviour is taught by parents, teachers and authority figures- "How dare you say no to me"?, "What will people say"?, "We know better about your welfare than you do"., "Do as I say". " Be a good child and do only what I decide for you".
B) Aggressive behaviour : Pendulum goes to the other extreme; Angry outbursts; hurting others; taking out one person's frustrations on some other person.
Self- esteem goes down further.
E.g. Boss scolding subordinate - > scolding peon - > Scolding his wife - > Scolding son - > Scolding younger sister - > beating the neighbour's dog!
Pressure cooker gathering steam and bursting.
Volcano exploding suddenly.
C) Assertive behaviour : Middle -of- path behaviour; correct, adequate and honest feeling directly expressed at the right time to the right person.
Consequently, self- esteem goes up.
E. g Asking firmly and getting back the loan given to a friend.
A Passive, non- assertive person feels like puppet whose strings are being pulled by others. An assertive person pulls his own strings and takes the charge of his life in his own independent hands.
Sky is the limit for his growth.
