I think I agree with HazelGirl - and in addition, I have become better at articulating what I need from a relationship. Not that I've become pushy or arrogant (I hope!) but today, for example, I was able to tell a friend who had done something hurtful that while I knew that they did not mean for me to feel bad, I did feel hurt; that I was not mad at them, but could they please be more careful in the future. That's something I don't think I could have done a couple of years ago - back then, the notion of telling somebody that they'd hurt me was completely unrealistic. And my friend reacted well and we had a long talk about it (mind you, this is a person who is also in therapy...) and our friendship is probably stronger for it.