Naturally assertive

Watching my grandson little Adam has made me realize that babies and little kids are naturally assertive. We don't have to teach them how to stand up for themselves - they just do it! They cry when they're hungry and they want what they want. No doubts about that! You can't tell a baby it's not ok to want what he wants! He just does...

So it makes me think that that being non-assertive and not standing up for ourselves is really something we learn. We are taught to keep quiet and not stand up for ourselves. We are taught not to want what we want...   And of course much of what we are taught is to make it possible for us human beings to get along with each other... but maybe for many, the training we got in childhood went a bit too far, and we're left not knowing how to stand up for ourselves in a good and clear cut way. So then when we grow up, we have to go back to assertiveness training again - and find out that it's ok to want what we want! Interesting isn't it...