There are still many who do not realize that the source of all the pressure that exists within themselves occurs because there are too many problems. The emergence of trust issues or distrust of others so that there is no support system that can be a friend to tell stories is the background for someone to finally choose to keep it to themselves. Not to mention if you've ever tried to convey everything you've been keeping to that person and the response you get isn't what you expected.
Of course, you often see that there are people who feel comfortable expressing their opinion in public, or simply rejecting an offer and giving very good reasons.
Joree Rose, a mental health practitioner, told Healthline, many people find it difficult to be assertive because it's hard to know boundaries. Assertiveness is a communication skill that includes the ability to communicate honestly and firmly but still pay attention to the feelings of others.
Launching from Healthline, some of the ways below will help you feel comfortable being assertive so that it can reduce stress and improve communication. Come on, learn!
Understand Communication Style
Knowing your communication style is the first step you can take to figure out how to voice your thoughts and feelings. There are two well-known examples of communication styles, namely passive communication styles and aggressive communication styles.
If you have a passive style, you wait for someone else to speak first. While aggressive on the contrary, and tends to intimidate. You need to find a middle ground between the two, so that it becomes an assertive style of communication.
Stay away from guilt
Feelings of guilt will continue to haunt you when you try to voice what you think and feel. Especially if you are the type of person who overthinks too much. Telling the truth or daring to say no doesn't mean you reject the person. But you are practicing to assert yourself and set boundaries to take care of yourself.
Practice for Firmness
Communication is not only verbal, but also non-verbal such as body movements and facial expressions. It's important that you practice self-control when the anxiety of expressing your opinion slowly begins to emerge.
Don't let your posture look shaky, restless, doubtful, or uncomfortable. Learning to maintain a firm posture will also increase your confidence. The trick is to stand up straight, pull your shoulders back, maintain eye contact, and show a neutral facial expression.
Self-confident
Without self-confidence, you can't possibly do it. Understand your potential, and grow self-esteem. Because self-confidence starts with yourself. If you doubt, other people will think so but on the contrary, if you believe then you will be able to do it.
Of course, the practice will not be easy and each has its own challenges. For that, there is no harm in starting to practice from now on to get used to it. The goal is that you can also feel comfortable with yourself without having to keep everything under wraps to cause prolonged stress and pressure that can destabilize your mental state.
In addition, by practicing assertive communication, you will also get used to practicing your communication skills. Good luck!