Today I learnt a new word. A lot of times I listen to words and I don’t get their full meaning, but I’m way too lazy to look up for it. The word in Spanish: asertividad (eng.:assertiviness). The meaning in the dictionary i don’t like it, cause to me it has an agressive meaning. Though someone I read wrote about it like this:
“Una de las cosas que más me ha costado aprender es que todos merecemos un respeto, y que dentro de ese respeto que merecemos, se encuentra el derecho a decir que no. Ejercer ese derecho se llama asertividad: hay que expresar los propios sentimientos y necesidades sin que esto suponga un problema, y los demás deberán aceptarlo.” (“One of the things that it’s been most difficult to learn for me is that we all deserve RESPECT, and among that respect we deserve, also the respect to say NO. To exercise this right is called assertiviness: We ought to express our own feelings and needs, without this being a problem, and others will have to accept this”)
Funny that I’ve learnt this word TODAY. Ironies of life, I guess. Assertiviness is for sure my weak point. I used it in a very firm and clear way for the first time this summer and I’m very proud of it. I set my boundaries and I claimed for sometthing that was mine from the beginning. My self respect. And saying NO, was a clear sign to that person that he couldn’t break that.
That was the first step, but not the only one. I have to get used to this word and what it means. Now i have to think and set my boundaries. Otherwise it’s a dead end street.
Other than that, trying my best, despite everything, to keep my spirits high. Not an easy task.
