speak my mind more

I’m not sure if this is the reason why, but when I was a young teen I had a lot of debates with my father. We’re both very stubborn and we see things very differently. Unfortunately I think it damaged our relationship. I’ve since learned to keep my opinions to myself when I’m with him.
But lately I’ve noticed that I keep my opinions to myself way too much. I think that I see things differently from a lot of people. When someone says something I don’t agree with, I often keep my mouth shut. But I don’t like that. Maybe I don’t offend people that way, but I don’t let anyone get to know the real me.
I’ve been trying to do this a little more lately, hopefully with this goal on my list I’ll remember to keep it up.

From now on if someone says something that is offensive to me or something I don’t agree with I will speak my mind rather than sit and say nothing. I’m tired of being the nice quiet one who never appears to have her own opinion. It makes it easy for people to walk all over me.

I’ve even got to the point where I can tell my parents how I feel about things, even if I still sometimes cry, I at least put together intelligent arguements and no longer alternate between surpressing my feelings completely and pitching complete fits.

I actually stood up to my dad and had a calm, rational conversation about my use of the car. Which, it turns out, is the best way to approach my father.

I’m actually doing pretty well with this. I’m really putting more thought into what I want to say before I say it. I highly suggest this, because otherwise just speaking your mind in the heat of the moment can get, well, ugly. Plus you can say things that you don’t mean in a passionate moment.