Dear Young Believer,
Assertiveness is an essential God given quality that everyone must develop. Let me begin by clearly distinguishing assertiveness from being aggressive or overbearing.
To be assertive does not mean to be aggressive.
To be assertive simply means to make your voice known, to take your rightful opportunity, and to own the room, the space, and the time given to you. It means allowing yourself to be heard.
Assertiveness is about taking your moment in interactions with others. It is about ensuring that what is inside you has a chance to come out and be considered.
To be assertive means to advocate for yourself.
Hear this clearly.
You are the leader of your body, your thoughts, your mind, your hopes, your dreams, your desires, your wants, and your needs. You are the leader.
And if you do not advocate for yourself, you are letting yourself down. This is self betrayal. This is self neglect. When you fail to speak for yourself, you leave space for someone else to advocate for you or worse, to neglect you or deprecate you.
Assertiveness is the quality that fills that void.
It is the voice God has given you, and it is the responsible use of that voice.
However, assertiveness has a boundary. This is where clarity is crucial.
To be assertive means to advocate for yourself and to clearly communicate your needs, thoughts, wants, desires, and opinions. It means communicating them clearly so that you have your rightful opportunity to be heard.
This is your right.
Every human being deserves to be heard.
That is all.
