ask for what you want!!
Part I – Be polite, watch your manners, don’t hurt people’s feelings. Most people would agree these are good rules to live by. To a certain extent, they are; but when any one of these suggestions is taken to extreme, it can reek havoc your life. I know, because I’ve experienced it.
My parents, and yours did what they thought was right when raising their kids. They, as most, did their best, based on teachings and modeling passed down from their own parents and the society they lived in. For the most part, it worked. I think I turned out okay. How about you?
But at certain points some of us may have gone a little overboard. Courtesy became self-sacrifice. And in the world as I know it, too much self-sacrifice can undermine self esteem, which erodes quality of life.
You have the right to ask for what you want from others. It’s the other person’s choice to say yes or no – but you owe it to yourself to ask. Self-sacrifice can mask itself as valiant and cause you to place your own wants and needs behind those of others; in itself not a bad thing, but in excess, self destructive.
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to discuss each of the above behavioral codes and the damage they can do. Nothing I’ll say will be black and white. There’s gray area in every point I’ll make. I’ll ask you to approach this discusion with an open mind, because if you lead in with judgment, you’re noit going to hear what I have to say, and you may miss something that could change your relationships and hense your life.
Are you with me? Good! I’ll see you next week for Part 2: Being Polite.
Judith Cassis, C.Ht. is a personal development coach and motivational speaker. To schedule a Free lecture, please email successmadesimple.jc@gmail.com.
Looking forward to Part II – great idea!