People usually take advantage of me being soft and laugh at me. (I am a male).
I am just wondering if there is a working to do to not be soft as much and be more assertive or masculine.
Doing spells and magic to help this is great, and the Gods are wonderful and supportive, but also... you gotta live it.
You need to practice being hard so that you learn that:
1.) It's okay for you to be firm and put yourself first.
2.) It's okay not to prioritize other's comfort over your security.
3.) It's safe for you to be firm. (Being firm is also what keeps you safe.)
4.) You can handle the reaction of others when you stand up to them and stand up for yourself.
5.) Life will go on if you say "no", "stop" or "fuck off".
Things that can help you build this in the material world:
1.) Be in a culture or around guys that embody the traits you want to adopt. When you see others doing things you're uncomfortable with, it normalizes it for you and makes it easier for you to express. Be one of the guys.
2.) Do things that require you to exert your will against the world. Work with your hands, do a martial art, lift weights or yourself, disagree, debate & argue, persuade people, etc. This will strengthen your personality.
3.) Ask yourself, who the fuck is this to be treating you that way? Get mad, get disgusted, do what you have to do to realize that they are in no position to dictate anything about your life, and give yourself permission to defend yourself. If they hurt you, you can hurt them back.
4.) Think of all the hard times and pain and struggle you've been through. What is this compared to that? If you don't have any of that, think of a person or figure you idolize, what would they do? Would they tolerate this? What if you saw your best friend being treated this way, what would you do? Do that for yourself.
5.) Seek out pro-masculine media. Watch Fight Club, read the memoirs of men who you would aspire to be like, seek out strong personalities and look to them as role models. Look for men who have been through what you've been through. Listen to empowering music.
When you stand up for yourself and show you have teeth, then people will be less inclined to mess with you. Don't let it go on too long.
Keeping all this in mind, it's also important that:
1.) You do not seek to take away your gentleness. Softness, sensitivity, and kindness is beautiful and necessary, but you must protect it and do not give it away too freely, especially to those who do not treat it with respect. Do not take a good thing away from yourself, but add another good thing to compliment it, such as assertiveness and strength and backbone.
2.) You introspect in order to find out why you have a hard time standing up for yourself, and why you are so soft. Lack of strong father figure? Mum has hangups around men? Maybe you've never been tested, never had to impose your will before? Maybe you were punished for acting like a man(or boy)? Maybe you hate yourself and don't believe you're worth fighting for?
Whatever the reasons, it's important to gain self understanding. Then you can get to the bottom of the issue and solve it at the root.