* Dear Mike: I just read your comments on this thread thoroughly. I like:

“stand up straight…look them in the eyes… Keep your face soft and relaxed, allow your muscles to relax.

When you talk keep it short and to the point, take deep enough breaths to sustain a clear voice do not rush your words.

Don’t apologize or make excuses…”

Excellent, I want to keep these suggestions in my mind.

But notice how old habits creep in. After you wrote to not apologized you apologized twice. Once here: ” “I’m sorry I don’t have the answer to that right now…” and the second time in your second comment: “Sorry I want to add a little more…”

Like you, Mike, I am a fellow sufferer of this lack of self confidence and like you, I am working on it. So my motivation in pointing this out is to help you and me. Isn’t it amazing? It amazes me. You are kind enough to try to help S and yet you apologize for trying to help her or for taking more space in a second comment.

Or the first apology, for not having an answer. Who has the all the answers? I am reminding myself right now to apologize only when I hurt someone, not otherwise. That in itself lets another know: You are greater than I am, sorry…

Extreme patience and extreme kindness to self, myself, yourself ….
anita