Sometimes when you express your opinion, your want or your need by sending an I-Message, you will hear resistance or discomfort from the other person. You will almost always defeat your purpose if you continue to repeat your I-Message when the other person reacts negatively to it. Simply re-stating your I-Message will create even more defensiveness and their negative reaction will intensify. Failure to show concern for or acknowledgement of the other person can appear to be aggressive because what you communicate to the other person is: "Here's what I think and I don't really care how you feel about it."

Dealing with the other person's resistance is an integral and indispensable step in your communication because it lets them know that you value them and the relationship.