Stand Up For Yourself

I’m trying to encourage you (if you’re reading this!) to stand up for yourself more than you ever have. When you do, watch what happens. Here is a short list of just a few things you will notice!

You Can’t Please Everyone, and That’s Okay.

When you stand up for yourself, you’ll notice not everyone will be happy about it. Sometimes this includes your friends and family. That’s because everyone has their own set of beliefs, and you might not even know where they stand until you take a stand on your own.

Keep your chin up. Real friends and non-toxic families will have respect for your opinion even if it challenges their own. Agree to disagree, have a meaningful conversation, and learn from others. Taking a stand for yourself might mean not pleasing everyone, but it makes you happier, which is what matters most.

You’ll Feel ALIVE

Taking a stand for yourself and what you believe in can be daunting. It can put you in a vulnerable state. But being vulnerable isn’t a reason to keep quiet. When you say what you have to say respectfully, you’ll feel exhilarated and alive. It might even give you a rush!

When you face others and the world and take a stand, you find your voice. And having a voice will almost always help you to feel ALIVE.

Your Self-Confidence Will Grow

Taking a stand at first may make you feel scared. But once you do it and continue to do it, you’ll see that your true friends and family will grow their respect for you. What’s better for your self-confidence than a tribe of people who respect you? You see, even if your opinion differs from others, you’ll start to realize that how others think should not and will not define you.

You’ll Find You Can’t Control Others.

You might have been worried about how others will react to you when you take a stand for yourself. But the truth is, most people don’t have the intestinal fortitude to stand up for what they believe. Others might try to use you as a doormat or punching bag. Regardless, remember that you can not control others’ reactions or actions, but you can control YOU. So always stay respectful and kind.

You’ll Grow As a Person.

Staying stagnant doesn’t encourage personal growth. Facing situations and taking a stand will help you grow more than you realize. Why?

Standing up for yourself requires you to remain in control at all times. When you stay respectful and kind, as I mentioned above, and respect others, especially when they feel differently than you, you grow. Drama only happens if you give in and lose control or lose yourself in your emotions. So when you take a stand, you are taking charge of who you are. You might even change your position over time, but the important thing is you remain in control and respectful.

People Will Respect You

When you stand firm for what you believe in, people start to gain respect for you. Sometimes there will be people just trying to wear you down. Hopefully, time helps weed these people out of your life, but over time, you’ll notice that people will also stop trying to take advantage of you. In its place is a level of respect that comes with time. When you stick with your beliefs and stand firm in your opinions, people realize you are not weak, easily influenced, or part of the ‘sheep mentality”. They’ll realize they can’t and shouldn’t mess with you. Respect earned!

Your Circle Will Improve

You take a stand and realize some friends or family can’t handle it. It’s okay. Let them go. It’s hard, but in the end, real friends respect you. As you take a stand over and over again, people will weed themselves out of your life, and in their place will appear a much more appropriate circle of friends that you deserve. The people you surround yourself with reflect who you become. Let these people be as deserving as you!

Time, Money, Energy Are In Your Favor

Taking a stand doesn’t mean starting arguments, uncomfortable confrontations, or meeting people outside the bar during a thick discussion. I’m talking about having an adult conversation with friends, family, business partners, coworkers, and others that also involve listening skills. Standing up for yourself doesn’t have to happen in the “heat of the moment,” in the middle of a confrontation or argument.

When you have adult conversations instead of heated arguments, you save time, money, and energy. There is a way to be polite and disagree. There’s a way to take a stand and remain united.

Those that can’t handle this are simply trolls that need to go back to their woods and don’t deserve your time.

You’ll Learn About Yourself!

Good, bad, and indifferent. You will soon see yourself in a different light too. A word of caution, though: Don’t let your ego stay in control. If you’ve flown off the handle, lost your cool, changed your mind, or realized you were wrong: don’t be afraid to say it! Learn how you feel. Grow. Evolve. But don’t stick with one way of thinking just because your ego is too big to be wrong. Strong, capable people take a stand and learn and grow.

I hope this helps you feel more confident in taking a stand. You’ll be so much happier when you stop trying to make everyone happy and listen to your inner self. What else should I add to the list? Did I miss the mark somewhere? Let me know and let’s discuss! I’m looking forward to hearing how you take a stand, and remember, success is a choice!

Originally published at https://aaronbouren.com on November 15, 2021.