Many men and women are poorly treated by their family members, friends, co-workers, and others. Most times, these victims feel that defending themselves may worsen the situation. They consider what they might lose if they choose to stand up for themselves. Consequently, they lose their self-esteem and become vulnerable to maltreatment. You may desire to be accepted by others, but don’t settle for less than you deserve. Defend yourself when you feel it is right to do so. Never allow people to stamp on your happiness.
The fear of further humiliation and rejection can prevent people from standing up for themselves when they are maltreated. However, these tips will help you to defend yourself when you are disrespected or treated without kindness.
Believe in yourself
Developing self-confidence is crucial to defending yourself. People are less likely to abuse or bully you when you are self-assured. Don’t regard yourself as a victim. Share any past negative experiences that affect your mentality with a counselor or someone you trust. It will enable you to move on and have a better judgment about your worth.
Being self-confident enables you to stand up for yourself if the situation demands so. You can express your genuine opinion without disrespecting others. Learn how to make your views and needs known to people. Being assertive will help you to stand up for yourself. Practice this skill and it will gradually become part of you.
Improve yourself
Learn skills that will make you think highly of yourself. Try to improve your appearance. A healthy and fit physique can help boost your confidence. Engage in activities that will enhance your body build. Exercises will enable you to feel great physically and also have fun. Besides developing a fit and strong body, learning self-defense will be useful. It will help you to defend yourself if any scuffle occurs. The acquired defense skills will also improve your confidence.
Develop a positive attitude
Always express yourself without fear. Don’t nod in affirmation when you are dissatisfied. Allowing people to work over you will only reduce your self-worth. Teach others how to treat you. Your attitude can influence people around you. Regard yourself highly and let it reflect in your thoughts and interaction with others. Feel good about yourself and encourage other individuals to do the same. Your positive feelings towards life will enable you to stand up for yourself.
Be firm
Don’t allow people to force into difficult situation. Learn to say “no.” Don’t please others at your own detriment. It is not easy to put your foot down and prevent others from walking over you. Make firm decisions on your relationship with other people. Be determined and stop them from intimidating you. Though the changes in you will surprise them, but they will have to accept your judgment.
Practice positive body language to gain the respect of others. Show people that you know your worth. Don’t be shy or use gestures that will suggest such behavior. It will only make people to intimidate you. Stay away from those that will bully or criticize you. Don’t hesitate to defend yourself reasonably when you are abused verbally or physically.
