A bully hides his fears with fake bravado. That is the opposite of self-assertiveness. - Nathaniel Branden
It is naive to think that self-assertiveness is easy. To live self-assertively--which means to live authentically--is an act of high courage. That is why so many people spend the better part of their lives in hiding--from others and also from themselves. - Nathaniel Branden
The opposite of self-assertiveness is self-abnegation--abandoning or submerging your personal values, judgment, and interests. Some people tell themselves this is a virtue. It is a "virtue" that corrodes self-esteem. - Nathaniel Branden
One of the hardest expressions of self-assertiveness is challenging your limiting beliefs. - Nathaniel Branden