What are Assertive Rights?

The assertiveness, that social ability that the human being possesses to express and say what he thinks, believes and feels, in a way educated, honest, direct and without offending, more and more is known and given the importance and space that corresponds. assertive behavior is the halfway point between aggressive and passive behavior.

And it is that for good communication and for one's own emotional well-being, being assertive, asserting one's own assertive rights and respecting the rights of others, is essential.

You read that right, assertive rights. Do you know them? Have you heard this term before?

In the same way that there are certain labor, civil or criminal rights, there is also a list of assertive rights that help us behave in this way and that are closely related to self-esteem. The problem can come when we often forget about them or don't even know they are there.

What are assertive rights?

Some of these rights were collected by Manuel J. Smith, in 1975, in his book When I say no, I feel guilty. Since then other rights have been added and added to the list.

Below we rescue the most important ones.

1. Right to consider one's own needs

Sometimes we value, behave and do according to what others consider that we need, and no one better than oneself to assess and consider those own needs.

2. Right to establish your priorities and your own decisions

Closely related to the previous right. We can, we must, and we have the right to establish priorities and make decisions: accept a job offer, change apartments, break with the partner, take that trip... Let's stop doing things to satisfy others and get the approval of others and be masters of our own decisions.

• Related article: "Psychological well-being: 15 habits to achieve it"

3. Right to change your mind

We can and we have the right to change our mind whenever we feel like it and when we consider it so. We can vary course without feeling bad: change of political thought, of what is believed about a person, of certain traditions, of what we previously considered a priority and with the passing of the years no longer so much...

4. Right to express your ideas and feelings

And of course also, emotions. Cry, laugh, show our anger... the emotions They are part of us, they fulfill their function and there is no need to try to hide them, or hide them; on the contrary, expressing them is a right and a necessity.

5. Right to say "no" to a petition, without feeling guilty

How many times do we do something that we don't really want because we don't refuse? We must say "no" without feeling bad and without guilt invading us when something really doesn't feel like it, makes us uncomfortable or goes against our values.

• Related article: "Guidelines to learn to say 'no'"

6. Right to be treated with respect and dignity

Something so basic, but that often does not happen. If you notice, feel, perceive that you are not being given this right and the treatment you receive is just the opposite, please, do not shut up, set limits and let them know.

7. right to make mistakes

Human beings learn from mistakes, so blessed mistake! No underestimating ourselves or thinking that we are worse people, worse professionals, worse mothers... for making mistakes. Everyone is wrong and it doesn't mean more.

8. Right to ask and give when you decide

This right is related to the one we have discussed a little above, the right to say “no”. We have the right to ask for help or whatever we need and to offer help or what they have asked us if we consider it so and not to do so as well. Remember: not because we have asked for something, we feel obliged to give later.

9. Right to do less than you as a human can do

Nothing happens and we should not feel bad for doing less than we can give.

10. right to feel good

Fundamental to feel good physically and emotionally speaking. So try to get it and don't feel bad about it.

11. right to succeed

Sometimes after success comes the envy of the environment that can make the person not enjoy it and even believe that they do not deserve it. Congratulations on that success, feel proud of having achieved it and enjoy it, you are within your rights.

12. Right not to use your rights

We all have the same rights and can choose to exercise them or not.

From now on you know something more about assertive rights, you can begin to observe and take note of them in the different environments in which you move, and if you perceive and identify that one of them is being limited, you can work to change it.

To end...

From now that you already know something more about assertive rights, you can begin to observe and take note of them in the different environments in which you move, and if you perceive and identify that any of them is being restricted, you can work to change it.