India Arie Quotes

I need to learn to be more assertive.

Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want.

Years and years of therapy taught me to speak up because speaking up is what gets things done and gets your story and your voice heard.

Learning to ask is like flexing a muscle. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. I started by learning how to ask for the small things in my life, and eventually I could make the Big Daunting Asks.

It’s never overreacting to ask for what you want and need.

When we don't ask for what we want and need, we discount ourselves.

Out of frustration, I say things. Now, people listen to me so much I can say it under my breath and everybody hears me... I said in the past that I'm a work in progress, and I feel like I'm progressing.

I always try and do my best and put out the best and find the best in me, as well. But I'm not thinking about it beforehand.

To know oneself, one should assert oneself.

It took me a long time to figure out how to act, and how to conduct myself in the business so I could get what I felt I needed to support my potential and give them what they wanted.

For me, becoming a man had a lot to do with learning communication, and I learned about that by acting.

I wish I could just go tell all the young women I work with, all these fabulous women, 'Believe in yourself and negotiate for yourself. Own your own success.' I wish I could tell that to my daughter. But it's not that simple.

My voice is stronger today than ever.

I think 'No' is a very powerful word in our business that is very hard to use early on in your career. But I also think I was pretty arrogant when I was younger... I used that word maybe too much, but it did help me with finding roles that I did like.

I know what I want at least, and the older I get I think I'm better at getting it out of players and singers.

If you know where you stand, and your minus and plus points as a director or as a human being, you will never go wrong. You will always be successful.

I've gotten better at not making people feel uncomfortable with my shyness.

I used to get offended by things that were said to me, or how I was seen, Now I educate. If I get pissed off, I'll educate in a sassy way.

I used to be really insular, really introverted. I couldn't articulate myself.

Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.

As an actor - and I say actor, but actress or actor, whatever - I've had to learn to be very open about what I want. I ask for it, even if I may not get it. I feel like it's worth the ask.

Opening up is something I have to learn how to do if I'm going to be in this business.

A really big thing I've learned - and I think it's so liberating - is when you realize no one knows what they're doing.

Knowing who I am as a player and working on my deficiencies, communication is something I try to pride myself on.

Models need to learn to speak up.