Standing Your Ground

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I just got pushed.  Hard.  I then asked nicely for what I needed and got shot down.  I asked again.  Received an incredibly loud but silent response.  And then, because what I was requesting was essential to me and my well-being, I walked away.  And yes, I was angry and spent, but it suddenly dawned on me that I had done a good job of standing my ground.

Usually I attempt to avoid confrontation and “make nice,” even when people are walking all over me.  Maybe it’s the wisdom gained from getting older, or just a significant hormonal imbalance J, but lately I’m finding that I need to defend myself and sometimes others when lines in the sand are drawn.

I’m not talking about launching a world war because I didn’t get what I wanted for dinner.  I’m talking about standing my ground when the issues are really important—when boundaries are crossed or someone is taking unfair advantage of me or anyone else I care to go to bat for.

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You might ask why it matters in the big picture.  It matters because standing your ground keeps your integrity intact.  It matters because it shows you give a damn about yourself and others.  It matters because it keeps you from feeling like a victim.

Are there consequences?  Heck, yes.  I lost some much needed income.  I will likely have to tap dance to get paid for the work I’ve already done.  My blood pressure went up considerably, and I’m still agitated.

But I feel empowered and whole.  And that feels good.  That’s worth standing my ground.

Are there situations in your life right now where you need to stand your ground?

As always, I’d love to hear your comments.  And thank you for reading!

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com