If you don't do THIS, others will step over you

Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), the first treasury secretary of the United States and the subject of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, once said:

"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."

Hamilton sure hit the nail on the head with that one.

I understand that not everyone is naturally bold and assertive. Many of us -- particularly the ones who call ourselves introverts -- hate drawing any attention to ourselves.

It isn't a matter of changing your personality, for as I've stressed in other posts, you should never change your personality just to appease other people.

It's about standing up for yourself when people level criticisms at you that are unfair or blatantly false. It's about defending yourself against insults to your character. It's about not letting someone get away with trying to sully your reputation.

But Hamilton's quote goes beyond merely standing up for oneself. Maybe there's a cause you're deeply passionate about -- feeding the poor, saving the environment, finding homes for stray animals -- and people won't know about it (or take action) unless you allow your voice to be heard. We can take charge in support of causes we deem bigger than ourselves.

Just because you don't have the loudest voice in the room doesn't mean you have to silence it.

Stand up for what you believe in and what you think is right, even if it puts relationships you have with certain people in jeopardy.

One thing is for sure: Whether your boss has been treating you like garbage or your ex girlfriend doesn't stop pestering you even after you broke up with her, you need to speak up in order to effect change.

It doesn't mean you have to be rude or condescending. You can be firm and tactful at the same time. The aim is not to bicker, but to get some concession out of the other -- whether it's an apology or a commitment to provide aid.

No one is going to do the work for you. If you are intent on achieving something, don't give up. Stand up for your beliefs. Defend your principles with conviction. Fight for the change you want to see in your life -- or in the world itself.

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