Why Don't You Speak Up For Yourself?
By Dr. Margaret Paul. Posted on .
My counseling clients often complain to me about interactions they had with a partner, friend, parents or co-worker. When I asked the question, "Why didn't you speak up for yourself?" here are the most common answers I receive:
"I want to keep the peace."
"I don't want to rock the boat."
"I didn't know what to say."
"It won't change anything."
"He/she won't listen."
"We will just end up fighting."
"He/she will make it my fault."
More from YourTango: The Goals of Controlling Behavior In Relationships
Charlie is in his early 70's, and has been married to Esther for 43 years. Charlie and Esther love each other very much, but there has always been a problem in their marriage, and Charlie finally decided to get some help with it.
The issue is that Esther often speaks to Charlie with a harsh, demeaning, parental tone—telling him what to do. All these years, Charlie's way of dealing with this has been to comply—to be the 'nice' guy and try to 'keep the peace.' But every once in a while he suddenly blows up, scaring and hurting Esther. She has asked him over and over to tell her what's upsetting him so much, but when he has, she doesn't listen and turns it back on to him. In his mind, he has been in a no-win situation. The last blow-up led Charlie to seek my help.
The problem is that Charlie had never said anything to Esther about her tone in the moment. When he did say something, after the fact, Esther would have no idea what he was talking about, so she would explain, defend and turn it back on him.
"I don't know what to say," said Charlie.
"Charlie, how do you feel inside when Esther speaks to you with a harsh, demeaning tone?"
"I feel small, diminished, like I did when my father would criticize me. I feel like a helpless little kid. I hate it. It hurts me."
"And when you suddenly blow up, what do you say?"
"I tell her to shut up."
"Are you telling her to shut up about what she is saying?"
"Yes."
"So you don't say anything about her tone of voice or how you feel?"
"No, I don't think I have ever said anything about her tone of voice."
"Charlie, if you were to say something in the moment, not about what she is saying, but about how she is saying it, what would you say?"
"I'd say, 'Your tone of voice is harsh and diminishing and it hurts me.'"
More from YourTango: Soul Connections
"Great! Would you be willing to say this the next time Esther is harsh with you?"
"Yes!"
