Do you communicate your needs/issues/ opinions to others?

[Comms85]

I'm in my 40s and it has taken me till now to start to communicate my feelings more to people in my everyday life and in every area of my life, work, dating etc.
Before, I was a people pleaser, scared of upsetting or losing people if I said what I really thought. Scared of people disliking me or being seen as difficult.
I communicate my needs in a civil way and am not aggressive about it.
For example , I am not happy with how a guy I'm seeing has started being inconsistent and flaky so I have just left him a voicenote saying that I've noticed the change and that it's making me disengage from him. A year ago I would never have done this for fear of him disappearing, and I just would have accepted it and hoped it would change.
So I guess I'm just wondering do you communicate in an assertive way your boundaries etc if they are pushed or your opinions in work etc ?
And how has your life changed since you have started communicating and being truthful with people?

Sometimes. Honestly, I don't think there's anyone out there who communicates every need they have, raises every issue they experience, responds promptly and firmly every time someone brushes against their boundaries or treats them in a way they consider inappropriate or hurtful. Some people do it more often and more readily, others much less, but even the first group finds it easier to do over some situations and in certain contexts with certain people. I don't believe in Wonder Woman who always stands up for herself straight away over everything. We all fall short sometimes.

@Precipice yes I agree, it's very difficult to do it all the time and constantly but I'm trying to do it much more than previously especially with men. I actually cringe at what I put up with in the past and am frankly a bit ashamed of myself.