| So much of our lives we are around others under | | | | service. The jerk egotist who tries to control all |
| a wide range of circumstances and in different | | | | the people around him or her or attack those |
| environments. Learning how to function socially is | | | | whom they find threatening. |
| an important part of our development as human | | | | When we encounter those who either are or |
| beings, but not everyone is playing fair or nice. | | | | seem intent to cause us harm, we have to |
| For better or worse we encounter a variety of | | | | remain focused on the process which is unfolding, |
| people and personalities during our daily lives. How | | | | deal with ourselves and our emotional response, |
| we communicate and the outcomes of our | | | | claim and assert our universal right to be free |
| interactions can help us to grow- or shrink. | | | | from the manipulation of others, and then let go |
| Because we obviously want to grow, it's | | | | of any outcome which we expect to receive. Just |
| important to start recognizing the things that | | | | be. |
| make us feel good and expand, and to also | | | | Assertiveness is a valuable skill and a state of |
| recognize the things that make us want to crawl | | | | being and doing. One of the first steps of |
| inside ourselves and get away. | | | | assertive behavior is learning to disagree and to |
| Communication always has a purpose, whether | | | | say "no". Fortunately, assertiveness can be |
| the purpose is consciously known or unknown. | | | | learned and achieved by everyone. It all starts |
| Understanding the why's and the how's of | | | | with one single assertive behavior and builds from |
| communicating will deepen our understanding of | | | | that. The goal is to work on having a winning |
| our everyday reality. | | | | record. Just do it! |
| On a certain level, we are made to influence each | | | | Focus and concentration enable us to remain |
| others' thoughts and actions. We're made to give | | | | strong and composed during stressful events, in |
| and take instructions, guidance, and leadership. We | | | | charge of our actions and reactions. It empowers |
| can work excellently alone and work excellently | | | | us to be calm, to use the more advanced areas |
| as a team, as we are interconnected beings. We | | | | of our brains, and to find a solution in the |
| are designed and inclined to listen to others around | | | | moment. Meditation, exercise, and deep breathing |
| us. For instance if someone falls down and yells | | | | are a just a few examples of things we can do |
| "help" we almost instinctively rush to give care to | | | | to improve concentration. |
| that person even without thinking about it. | | | | Self-love. We have to love ourselves more than |
| This is precisely the thing that leaves us wide | | | | the person who wishes to take advantage of us. |
| open to those who intend to control us or do us | | | | We have to love what we stand for. We have to |
| harm. Examples of the usual suspects: the guy on | | | | love life itself. |
| the street begging for money, but whose car is | | | | Finally we must know that there is no loss. We |
| parked down the road. The dishonest salesman | | | | live, we learn, we grow. We succeed. |
| who is selling a piece-of-junk product or rip-off | | | | |