Putting others in their place...nicely

In my early forties, I am just now beginning to speak my mind.  It has never come easily.  Whether in line at a grocery store or making a shared decision with coworkers, I have often been "run over" by others. Saying something...anything...is not always easy.  Even writing about this issue seems painful and uncomfortable.  What I have learned, mostly though watching others and their interactions, is that how you say something matters more than what you say.  Smiling goes a long way.  So does respectfully disagreeing.   Not up for a debate?  Fine.  Simply say "We're all entitled to our opinions."   A hard lesson for me has been the realization that there will always be criticism, negativity, and malcontent...the key is to navigate it and not let it permeate into your own being.