There is a clear difference between being aggressive in a negative and being assertive. Often, people who are aggressive end up being bullies. Being a bully means you act self-righteous or superior and have no regard for the needs, feelings, and opinions of others. Bullying others will only lead to conflict and negativity in your life, not respect. You should try to keep your aggression in check so it does not turn into bullying. Though you may feel a momentary sense of power as a bully, it will ultimately only lead to resentment and anger from others. This resentment could then cause people to avoid you or oppose you. You can also channel aggression into developing healthy habits like positive communication, becoming assertive instead. Positive communication means you practice active listening and always consider the thoughts and opinions of others. You should also try to take your ego out of any discussion or conversation and focus instead on how you can support those around you. Practicing active listening means not interrupting others when they are speaking and maintaining eye contact with the speaker. Once the speaker is done, you should repeat back what she said in your own words to show you were listening and paying attention. Then, you can respond to the speaker in a positive and open way. Displaying empathy for others means putting your ego aside and focusing on how others are feeling or what they are experiencing. Doing this will show that you can be assertive and strong willed without walking on the needs of others. Showing empathy for others is often a sign of confidence and maturity. For example, you may have an employee who is struggling with an illness in the family. You may then show empathy for the employee by approving his request for time off and checking in with the employee on a consistent basis to make sure he has everything he needs. Showing the employee compassion and empathy will show that you can be a considerate boss. Another way you can channel aggression into something productive and healthy is to focus on mediating conflict. Conflict resolution can be useful at home and in the workplace. You should strive to mediate a conflict rather than try to dominate it so it can be resolved effectively.  Make sure you are addressing the problem or issue at hand, not the person involved in the problem. Focusing on how you can problem solve the issue will avoid making anyone feel bad or placing the blame on someone. You should also work with others to try to mediate an issue so you are not dominating the conversation or being too aggressive towards others. Collaborating and listening to others will ensure the resolution is effective and satisfying for everyone involved. For example, maybe there is a conflict between two of your co-workers. Rather than punish both co-workers or blame them, you may sit down with them and have a mediation session. You may act confident and assertive but also listen and empathize with both employees to reach a resolution.

Summary: Do not bully others. Use positive communication. Display empathy for others. Mediate conflicts.


Use a white terrycloth towel to apply gentle pressure to soak up the stain. Don't rub or scrub as this will make the stain worse, causing dirt particles to get ground in to the carpet. Rub a cotton ball moistened with rubbing alcohol on the glue. Gently wipe off the glue residue and continue rubbing until it is gone.

Summary: Blot spilled liquids immediately. Remove glue with rubbing alcohol.


Shy people sometimes feel more comfortable exploring social connections on the internet. The ability to self edit and manage impressions may increase his sense of control, thus reducing anxiety.  Social networking sites allow shy people to explore relationships, without the pressure to immediately respond often inherent in face to face communication. When the nature of the conversation is personal, be sure to private message him. He may be uncomfortable having sensitive, personal information available to all of his connections. This both breaks the ice online and provides a topic to help externalize. Being online provides the perfect opportunity to share videos, photos, games, or general knowledge. Avoid beginning any conversation, even those online, with deeply personal information or questions. Even online, he may withdraw if he becomes too uncomfortable. Making yourself increasingly vulnerable will help him feel safe to do the same. Ask him to also share, if he doesn't open up on his own.  It is appropriate to ask for reciprocation, but it doesn't need to be measured by a standard definition of equal. Take his boundaries and limitations into consideration. What may be a minor disclosure to you may have taken him well outside his comfort zone. Take your own vulnerabilities into account. If you don't think he's really going to reciprocate, you don't have to completely lay yourself bare.

Summary: Connect with him via email or social networking. Share an interest to start the conversation. Self-disclose to transition the conversation to the personal.


The most important, yet most frequently overlooked element in the unemployment process is reading the information guide provided by your state’s unemployment insurance agency. If you haven’t received this information in the mail, contact the nearest unemployment insurance agency office. Anytime you file a report with the unemployment insurance agency, be sure to be as accurate and honest as possible. Doing so will help your claim avoid looking suspicious and will speed the time it takes for your claim to be processed and approved. It’s a good idea to keep detailed and consistent records of all your interactions with former employers and the unemployment insurance agency. This way, if there’s ever any discrepancy or controversy surrounding your claim to unemployment benefits, you can set the record straight. When maintaining records, be sure to note the following:  The names of people you talked with from the unemployment agency or at your former employer. The dates on which interactions occurred, and the content of these interactions. Note the channel of communication (i.e., telephone, email, letter, etc.). Keep copies of all relevant written correspondence, whether hardcopy or digital. Always remember that there is currently no way to file for unemployment benefits other than to do it for yourself using official government forms, paperwork, and websites. Anything outside these channels is most likely a scam and should be avoided.
Summary: Read the relevant information. Be honest. Keep good records. Use the correct filing methods.