Keeping thoughts and feelings bottled up can lead to a range of physical and emotional problems. Avoid this by learning to assert yourself. We have some great tips and exercises on how to make your point firmly, effectively, and courteously. Learn how to express:

• Observations — Discuss your perceptions of the situation objectively.
• Thoughts — Share your opinions or interpretations of the other person’s observations.
• Feelings — Offer your emotional reaction to the situation instead of blaming the other person for your feelings.
• Wants — Request clear and specific action from the other person.

filed in: Mind Body Spirit
subjects: communication-techniques