| Show Being Open an and Direct Improves Improve All Relationships By Valerie Christensen Associate Editor Anyone who looked into Parlor A on Wednesday afternoon afternoon afternoon after after- noon may have wondered at the woman play playacting acting in the front of the mom room What looked like an acting class was really one of the two assertiveness assertive- assertive ness training sessions offered by the h health center last ast week Anne Smith taught the first session She said that assertiveness assertiveness assertiveness asser- asser is open and direct communication that is respectful respect respect- ful of yourself and other people Smith offered the workshop because she hoped to improve the skills of those in attendance attendance attendance atten atten- dance and help them develop a rational belief system The major portion of the class was spent defining and recognizing passive and aggressive aggressive aggressive sive behavior versus assertive behavior Aggressive people are only concerned with themselves and are defensive belligerent and often humiliate others Smith said Passive people allow their rights to be violated and ano oom dont achieve their goals goas They end up frustrated and unhappy Smith said Assertive people have high sel self esteem and are happier They allow others to chose for themselves and the take responsibility responsibility responsibility for their own decisions she added You Vou are going to be more effective feel better about yourself yourself your your- sel self f and have better relationships relationships relationships relation relation- ships when you are assertive Smith said Actions and situations dont don't predict a persons feelings but rather their personal beliefs Smith said According to Smith irrational beliefs lead to wrong behavior An irrational belief is everybody d y m must us t Ii like k e me Smith said You Vou must identify identify identify iden iden- your your distorted beliefs and replace them with reali reality ty Smith said body language is important in communicating assertiveness People are more likely to believe what your body says over what you say The assertiveness training was the first of the quarterly workshops that the Health Center Genter |
