Assertive & Vulnerable Communication

You have certain rights in a relationship:

1. The right to your viewpoint, although others may not share your viewpoint
2. The right to your feelings being expressed, although you don't have the right to hold others responsible for your feelings.
3. The right to your desires for the relationship, although you can't expect to have all of your desires met.

An assertive individual exercises these rights in a relationship. If you are in a caring relationship, you can expect your partner to care about your view, your feelings and your desires.

All to often, one partner will fail to express as assertive message in a vulnerable tone. The vulnerable tone is much more likely to hook your partner's caring. An aggressive or abrasive tone tends to repel caring.