Assertiveness is a very important skill, because thanks to it we can stick to our decisions. Without the ability to refuse, we often lose twice as much, because we are doing something against ourselves – something which deep inside we don't want to do and which drives us further away from our goal.

For example: we decide to stop drinking too much alcohol, because we think it's detrimental for us. However, when a party comes we yield to the persuasions of our friends to drink with them. We lose twice as much, because afterwards we suffer from two hangovers – one as a result of drinking alcohol, and a moral one. We regret that we allowed others to talk us into drinking, because deep inside we didn't want to drink. We regret that and decide that this situation won't happen again. However, another party comes and... the situation repeats itself.

Why is it so? Very often we don't even try to explain others that we don't want something, because we think that they certainly will not understand it. It's us who presume such scenario which, in reality, may not be true. It's good to try to explain, because in the worst case scenario we will hear the answer we have presumed to receive. But we can gain a lot because if we properly argue our decision, people will understand it. If not, we should look at it from a different perspective. We haven't done anything against ourselves and we live in harmony with ourselves. We don't harm ourselves because of somebody else's whim. We have the right to decide about ourselves. If somebody doesn't understand that and doesn't want to respect our decisions, it's good to think whether it's worthwhile to keep up with that person, because this acquaintance may be toxic.

Remember – don't do anything by any means! Let's respect other people and their decisions. We should send out positive energy and we shouldn't force others to do something they don't want to. Only then we can expect others to do so as well.