Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Design by Evelyn Mousigian. Everyone is familiar with the concept of assertiveness: the sweet spot ...

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. We learn that fact in geometry, but it can apply to communication. A clear, straightforward statement or assertive phrase is sometimes ...

New research suggests that learning how to be assertive can significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Assertiveness is a communication skill that allows you to express your needs, feelings ...

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Being a doormat is not a personality trait—it’s a pattern. It’s what happens when you’re trained to put everyone else’s comfort before your own, when “no” feels like a four-letter word, and when you ...

There are the official rules (don't steal, lie, or cheat, etc.), and then there are the often unspoken "unofficial rules"—the latter being way harder to follow, or even identify. Those pesky ...

One of my favorite mystery writers is Ruth Rendell. She lived from 1930 to 2015, and often wrote psychological thrillers in which she often delved into crimes that result from people being unable to ...

It’s only a matter of time before a life-long people pleaser wakes up and cries, “Enough is enough!” Instead of going with the flow to be as nice as possible, there’s often a tipping point when you ...

Do you feel like everyone’s walking all over you, taking what they need with little concern for what you need? Perhaps you loan money that isn’t repaid, get stuck chairing another committee because ...

People-pleasing behaviour in the workplace can be exhausting, especially when it stops feeling like a choice and becomes a knee-jerk reaction. Regardless of the personal discomfort, being assertive ...