Dear gj:

You are very welcome and thank you for your good wishes. Please, do post anytime.

I was thinking, regarding the fear that you “decided to let go of”- how you behave is more under your control than how you feel. As you interact with your boss who, reads to me, is inclined to criticize, and as you interact with anyone else at work, see to it that you don’t behave fearfully, best you can.

When we act fearfully, some people who have some power over us, delight in it somehow and are motivated to maintain it. Your best bet, I believe, is to not act fearfully, best you can (will take practice), and as you gradually succeed in doing so, your boss may be less likely to continue being as critical and discouraging as he has been.

anita