Be Assertive Learn to be assertive. Non-assertiveness allows others to walk all over you. You surrender the control of the situation to others. Being assertive means standing up for your personal rights and expressing your thoughts, feelings and beliefs directly, honestly and spontaneously in ways that don't infringe on the rights of others.
Assertive people respect themselves and others.
They take responsibility for their actions and choices. Expressing negative feelings at the appropriate time avoids the buildup of resentment. This will help you manage your stress more successfully. An example will illustrate this point. An elderly patient, Karen, was very frustrated because she has no time to do anything for herself.