Help me develop sprezzatura, the art of "a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it." The "zen valedictorian" approach, but applied outside of a school setting. Or old-style Hollywood glamour, but updated for our millennium. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 19, 2009 - 26 answers

I think I may have a victim mentality and I'm not sure how to fix it. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 19, 2009 - 10 answers

How can I understand, and empathize, with my fiancee's psychological issues? And other difficult-to-articulate questions. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 17, 2009 - 65 answers

Please help me be less self-conscious at the gym [more inside]
posted by Chrysalis on Dec 2, 2009 - 17 answers

How do I deal with my recently redeveloped confidence? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 28, 2009 - 5 answers

Conquering confidence issues at the age of 25. [more inside]
posted by lwclec072 on Nov 4, 2009 - 15 answers

How do I keep myself from feeling inadequate in certain professional settings? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 23, 2009 - 14 answers

Almost every meeting I go to and share anything I beat myself up afterwards. This happens to me in business meetings and at something as simple as a knitting group. At my knitting group, if I share something about my personal life, I feel judged, not only by the people in the group but by me! It is so bad that it has even caused me to quit going to certain groups because it is so painful to feel the feelings after the meeting of "why did I say that?" , "she doesn't like me" , " I bragged when I shared that about my daughter" , why did I tell that story about my husband? and on it goes. [more inside]
posted by seekingsimplicity on Oct 14, 2009 - 22 answers

Please help me nip another parental failing in the bud. I want help my children be more responsible. [more inside]
posted by Fairchild on Sep 21, 2009 - 34 answers

Please talk me out of my anxiety about making friends. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 14, 2009 - 20 answers

How to feel sexy in my skin for once?? [more inside]
posted by lwclec072 on Sep 10, 2009 - 24 answers

Parenting techniques, insight, and maturity needed before I completely ruin my kid's life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 8, 2009 - 36 answers

Help me prioritise my career / accomodation / other goals - they all appear to be short term! [ideally UK MeFi people]. Anon because contains detailed career / personal issues. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 16, 2009 - 3 answers

How to be more resilient to constructive criticism? [more inside]
posted by molybdenumblue on Jul 20, 2009 - 20 answers

I've lacked confidence in every aspect of my life, and it's holding me back. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 16, 2009 - 18 answers

I had a shitty performance review. How do I gain back my confidence? [more inside]
posted by jennyhead on Jul 13, 2009 - 17 answers

Many of my previous questions have focused on self-improvement, especially in technical and academic contexts. It's beginning to dawn on me it might be a confidence issue more than anything else. Is this fixable? [more inside]
posted by gadha on Jul 10, 2009 - 7 answers

I want to be more extroverted and confident and practice starting conversations with strangers... what are some good conversation openers? Tips? [more inside]
posted by Chrysalis on Jun 24, 2009 - 17 answers

Help me get my focus back on my own life and happiness and stop comparing/competing with my ex in my own mind... and stop having how I compare with others as a condition to my happiness/self esteem in general... [more inside]
posted by Chrysalis on Jun 16, 2009 - 13 answers

People-pleaser wants to transform, seeking self-help books and inspirational books/movies [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 14, 2009 - 9 answers

Please help a fella out with the next stage of his Courtship Reeducation Program: How to stay cool when you can't stay ambivalent? [more inside]
posted by EatTheWeak on May 25, 2009 - 13 answers

EmploymentFilter: I will soon have a job interview to be a copy editor/proofreader for a scientific publishing company. What sort of questions can I expect my interviewer to ask? [more inside]
posted by Jon_Evil on May 14, 2009 - 7 answers

How can I get rid of my nervous laugh? [more inside]
posted by tenaciousd on May 8, 2009 - 11 answers

How do I force myself to speak up more in class? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 22, 2009 - 26 answers

High School 2.0 (or, as it's also known, my workplace). Help! [more inside]
posted by I_Love_Bananas on Apr 5, 2009 - 8 answers

I'd like to change my self-image from brain-in-a-vat to confident corporeal superhero, through getting properly fit. My efforts so far haven't been mind-blowingly successful. [more inside]
posted by carbide on Mar 22, 2009 - 17 answers

How do you not allow your self-worth to be a function of what other people think of you, but rather what you think of yourself? [more inside]
posted by althanis on Feb 2, 2009 - 20 answers

How can I become more confident interacting with women specifically as well as in social situations generally. NOT looking for gimmicks, PUA or "get laid" systems, but genuine self improvement techniques. [more inside]
posted by DetonatedManiac on Jan 1, 2009 - 31 answers

I'll be performing in next year's Vagina Monologues. How can I be awesome? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Dec 6, 2008 - 17 answers

How did you get through prolonged periods of doing something you didn't believe in or agree with? [more inside]
posted by serazin on Nov 3, 2008 - 23 answers

I have never had to try very hard, and yet I've usually succeeded. Until now. How do I become better at dealing with failure? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 27, 2008 - 8 answers

I'm working +60 hour weeks, but I'm resistant to my employer hiring someone to help b/c I'm afraid they'll usurp my value within the company. How can I get over this fear? [more inside]
posted by jacobjacobs on Aug 14, 2008 - 11 answers

I've concluded that my generalized anxiety comes from a lack of confidence in my ability to cope with adversity. How can I change this? [more inside]
posted by Ringo on Jul 15, 2008 - 12 answers

How do I build a stronger personality? [more inside]
posted by self on Jul 7, 2008 - 12 answers

What are the best strategies to help a performer roll with the punches? [more inside]
posted by RokkitNite on Jul 4, 2008 - 7 answers

How do I help my man get some of his confidence back after a career change that everyone's treating like a demotion? It's been two years and I feel like I'm forgetting the caring and capable man I fell in love with. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 21, 2008 - 20 answers

Often I find myself thinking "yes, that's exactly what I was trying to say", or "that certainly didn't come across as clearly as I wanted", and even "how do I put what I'm feeling/needing into words?" Is this a disconnect between my (sometimes very scattered) thoughts and my verbal skills? [more inside]
posted by self on Jun 10, 2008 - 20 answers

How do you learn to feel comfortable with yourself? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 5, 2008 - 18 answers

I want to be a better showman during our live performances. [more inside]
posted by self on Jun 1, 2008 - 35 answers

Have you ever known someone with so much artistic potential, who does nothing with it? [more inside]
posted by self on May 25, 2008 - 52 answers

Why am i boring? [more inside]
posted by isoman2kx on Apr 10, 2008 - 36 answers

Generally speaking, what can I do in the first day/week/month of a new job to make sure I get off on the right foot? Specifically speaking, how can I present myself as a smart interesting capable professional, and not a shy nervous slacker? [more inside]
posted by Metroid Baby on Mar 27, 2008 - 16 answers

I lack faith in myself and am convinced that if I undertake anything but the most menial tasks I will screw things up. As a result, I screw things up and give myself even more proof that I will always screw things up. How do I stop the cycle? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 10, 2008 - 25 answers

After a complete transformation, I need to practice flirting, in New York. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 9, 2008 - 22 answers

I need to find an assertiveness course or workshop in London. A good one. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 27, 2008 - 3 answers

I need to recultivate my artsy hobbies, most specifically my writing and drawing. The problem is that I can't seem to initiate anything - I have no new ideas, nothing to work on. I'd also like to grow as a writer, but I'm my own worst critic and stop before I start (fear of failure and whatnot) - I'd like to hone my skills but I'm petrified of, well, sucking. [more inside]
posted by Eudaimonia on Feb 27, 2008 - 22 answers

Armchair psychologists and lifehackers: Please help me develop some basic assertiveness skills. [more inside]
posted by justonegirl on Jan 21, 2008 - 24 answers

I'm losing my hair at 19 and I'm becoming an emotional wreck. A different person. How do I cope with this and become my old confident self again? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 20, 2008 - 56 answers

How can a person overcome general insecurity, improve their self-esteem, and bolster their sense of self worth? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 25, 2007 - 18 answers

So a new roller derby league just formed in my town and I'm intrigued. It looks like a lot of fun in a badass kind of way that speaks to me. But what about my butt? [more inside]
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy on Nov 16, 2007 - 19 answers