Do you have an assertive tone of voice or are you in the habit of talking in a meek fashion? Do you mean what you say and say it with force? Are you shy when you are asserting yourself? Do you end some of your assertions as if they are questions? An assertive voice is one of your best self-defence weapons because it helps you to command attention.
If an attacker or someone you know tries to hurt you, you can use your voice to yell for help or to show that you're not going to back down.
Here are a few tips on how to ensure that you have an assertive voice.
1.
Pay attention to the pitch of your voice when you are defending yourself.
You may want to get a role model on television in order to really determine how to speak assertively.
Listen to the anchorwoman on the evening news.
She speaks with assertiveness and confidence.
Try to mimic her tone while talking to the mirror or into a tape recorder.
2.
Sound like you mean business when you are responding to another person's attack.
Sometimes girls 'ask' nicely instead of setting a clear boundary, such as "Take your hand off my leg, okay.
" Also, don't end your sentences as if you are asking a question.
When you end your sentences like you are asking a question, you sound unsure.
Assertive boundaries end with a period.
3.
Practise yelling "NO!" with power in front of a mirror.
Yelling with power isn't about screaming or raising the pitch of your voice like a desperate victim in a horror movie.
Have you ever head the way that military officers speak during drills.
Your goal is to yell "NO!" with that kind of power but with a little less 'bark'.
You need to yell from your diaphragm-your gut-not from the top of your throat By following these tips, you will ensure that you can stand up for yourself by powering up your voice.
This is so important when you are trying to defend yourself physically or emotionally/psychologically.
When you power up your voice, you will be telling your perpetrator that you mean business, and (s)he will leave you alone over time.