"Help! No one listens to me!"

Our experts share simple ways to ensure your voice is heard—and the specific words that will persuade others to see your point of view

- Kristina Mastrocola

Find your voice

Discover your ‘self story’ 

When you don’t feel heard, look a little deeper to discover if there’s a narrative you’ve been telling yourself that may be undermining your confidence, advises expert Susan Weinschenk, PhD. “For example, if you feel like your family doesn’t listen, you may have been telling yourself, I’m the youngest, and my siblings always roll over me. Or if you don’t feel heard at work, you may have been saying, They don’t listen to me because I don’t have an advanced degree.” How to flip the script? “Rewrite your ‘self story’ from a more positive perspective: I’m a confident person and when I speak, people listen.” Just jotting down your new story helps boost your self-belief.

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