Which statement best demonstrates the use of I-statements?

• A. I feel frustrated when you interrupt me because I don't feel heard
• B. You never listen to me
• C. People like you always interrupt
• D. If you would listen, you would understand

Answer: (A)

This statement demonstrates I-statements because it expresses your own feelings, identifies a specific behavior causing the feeling, and explains the impact. It says “I feel frustrated,” naming the emotion, then points to the action that triggered it—“when you interrupt me”—and finishes with why it matters—“because I don’t feel heard.” This ownership of emotion, tied to a concrete behavior and its effect, keeps the message focused on your experience rather than blaming the other person, which makes it more likely the other person will listen and respond calmly.

The other statements rely more on blaming, generalizing, or telling the other person what to do. They shift responsibility onto the listener (“You never listen to me,” “People like you always interrupt”) or make a conditional demand without owning your own feelings, which tends to provoke defensiveness rather than a constructive conversation. By sticking with I-statements, you invite a collaborative dialogue about the behavior and its impact.