Learning Assertive Communication Styles That Work For HSPs
From Emotional Badass by Nikki Eisenhauer
March 8, 2026 · 36 min · Season 9 · Episode 431
About this episode
Nikki Eisenhauer discusses the importance of assertive communication for highly sensitive persons and how it differs from passivity and passive aggression.
Most HSPs think they're being assertive when they're still stuck in passivity or passive aggression that feels icky. Until my thirties, invisibility was my whole strategy, gold medal people pleaser, total Gumby for whatever anybody wanted. Growing up in dysfunction taught me to keep peace, avoid shame, never rock boats, and my nervous system still confuses distance with actual danger by filling gaps with zero evidence. Real assertiveness interrupts all that projecting our past onto new people, it says I will state my reality and see what happens instead of mind reading or assuming. Passivity just gathers resentment while passive aggression creates confusion, but assertiveness? It gathers clarity. Light and love. RESOURCES: WORK WITH NIKKI 1:1 30 DAYS TO PEACE COURSE PATREON COMMUNITY INTRO TO BOUNDARIES THE BOUNDARIES INTENSIVE BOOK CLUB NARCISSIST ABUSE RECOVERY WORKSHOP THE FREE MORNING ROUTINE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER SIGNUP THE PATTERNSCAPES WELLNESS DECK BRAIN FM: CODE: emotionalbadass for 20% off your membership FOLLOW US: YouTube Instagram Facebook TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Nikki Eisenhauer
Topics covered
- assertive communication
- highly sensitive persons
- passivity
- passive aggression
- mental health
- self-improvement
Keywords
- assertiveness
- HSP
- communication styles
- mental health
- self-improvement
- boundaries
- passive aggression
Sponsors
Brain FM
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Patreon
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- How to Articulate Your Thoughts & Communicate More Effectively · May 10, 2026 · 40 min
- How to Fix Your Cruel Inner Voice · May 3, 2026 · 36 min
- Let Go of What No Longer Serves You · April 26, 2026 · 40 min
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