As a general rule I am sure we all agree on this, but you would be surprised how many women allow others to treat them poorly. This includes spouses, children, co-workers and friends.

My experience in working with women is that many have conflict avoidance. I get it. It’s not easy speaking up to some people, and standing your ground is no walk in the park.

If you do not already know the saying “We teach people how to treat us” then go ahead a commit it to memory. It’s true. Every time you allow someone to be rude to you (whether intentional or not), you are sending them a green light for more. In my opinion it not only hurts you but it hurts them to be rude to you. So you are not doing the other person a favor by allowing their rude behavior to continue.

Children watch closely as to how you treat others and allow others to treat you. Your children will have experiences dealing with difficult personalities and they will need a good role model.

If this is not a strength of yours, it’s okay. You can learn to be assertive (self-confident). It feels really good (after you get past the fear). You will need a good coach/counselor and a lot of practice. Your future self and your children will thank you (or at least I like to think my kids will).

The simple message here is DO NOT ALLOW OTHERS TO TREAT YOU POORLY. You matter. Maybe you can’t change another person but you can ask for change in how they behave toward you. You can let your voice be heard. You can stand up for yourself. This is a great start!

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Licensed counselor and founder of Girls Stand Strong Michelle Kelley, LCSW, helps girls and women of all ages develop and improve their self-image, self-esteem, relationship and communication skills, emotional understanding, coping skills, the ability to handle difficult situations and people, and resiliency to create a brighter, better and more successful tomorrow. For more information about Michelle’s coaching and counseling services, call (703) 505-2413 or email michelle@girlsstandstrong.com.