INPUT ARTICLE: Article: . Assertive communication emphasizes that both people in a conversation have important needs. To communicate assertively, give the facts without making accusations.  For example, you might say: “I was hurt and angry because it seems like you were belittling my project when you laughed during my presentation. I don't know what was going on, but it seems like you weren't paying attention or taking my hard work seriously. I could have just misunderstood what was going on. Can we talk and work this out?” Using please and thank you is not only polite, but it also shows respect for other people. Your communications should convey requests rather than demands. In order to get respect, you have to give it. Then you will foster cooperation and reciprocal respect. This is the opposite of what happens with anger, where aggressive, passive, or passive-aggressive communications puts others at odds with you. You can start your communications this way: “When you have the time, could you…” or “It would be a great help if you… Thanks, I appreciate it!” If you hem and haw and beat around the bush, or make general statements that are not specific, everyone involved will get frustrated. Instead, directly address the person you need to resolve your issue with. Make it clear what you would like to see happen. Be sure to put it in the form of a request.  For instance, if your coworker is speaking very loudly on the phone and it's difficult for you to do your work, you can state your request like this: “I have a request. Would you please lower the volume of your voice on the telephone? It's making it very difficult to concentrate on my work. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.” If you had stated instead, “It's really difficult to get my work done with all the noise in this office” to everyone in the room, it's not specific. Moreover, it will most likely alienate all of your coworkers, and you probably won't get your problem solved. When you figure out how you're feeling, convey the real feeling, like hurt, and keep judgment statements out of it.  For example, this is not an assertive way to express yourself: “I feel that you are an insensitive bore.” That is a judgment against another person (and not a very nice one at that). Instead, stick to things that pertain to you: “I feel that you are not being sensitive to my feelings when you read your paper instead of listening to what I'm trying to say.” Once you are able to recognize your anger triggers, you can slow down your anger and address anger-provoking thoughts. Then you will be able to shift your focus to problem solving. With problem solving, you are doing everything in your power to address the problem, figure out your own feelings regarding the situation, and express your feelings in the most productive way possible.  For example, you might get angry because your child got bad grades on his report card. To avoid having an angry outburst at your child, you should try to problem-solve. This will help you process through the situation. Work through your emotions by taking a few minutes to yourself, breathing deeply. As your head clears a bit, you can start thinking of solutions to this problem. You can strategize how you will talk to your child about his grades, emphasizing that you love him and support him. You can also think of solutions, such as getting him a tutor or enrolling him in a study skills class. You might have to accept the fact that sometimes, there isn't a solution to the problem at hand. This is okay, because not everything in life can be tied up in a package with a neat little bow. Life's a lot messier than that. You can't control life, but you can control how you react towards it.

SUMMARY: Focus on communicating assertively Be respectful. Make communications clear. Express your feelings well. Aim for problem solving.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: into a large square. Take the decorative binding fabric that you want to use to finish your quilt and cut it into strips that are twice as wide as you'd like and as long as the quilt. Sew the pieces together to create sharp corners that lie flat. Then fold the binding in half and iron it until it's smooth.For a 48 by 48 inches (120 cm × 120 cm) quilt, consider cutting the binding into 2 1⁄4 inches (5.7 cm) strips. Pin the binding in place and hold the open edge of the binding along the edge of the quilt. Sew along the edges and leave a 1⁄4 inch (6.4 mm) seam allowance as you go. Then fold the binding over and sew the binding shut along the edges. Then remove any pins and enjoy your quilt. Trim the end and fold it under the binding just before you finish sewing the last edge.

SUMMARY:
Cut and sew the binding fabric Sew the binding to the edges of the quilt.