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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How did you know that you wanted to be a therapist? What made you feel that you could do it? What doubts did you have, and how did you deal with them? If you changed your mind, what persuaded you to do so? What would you tell someone if they were considering becoming a therapist? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 18, 2007 - 6 answers

How do you learn to love your imperfections and flaws? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 20, 2007 - 20 answers

How do I become more assertive at work? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 26, 2007 - 11 answers

Should I blindfold my partner or never take my clothes off? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 13, 2007 - 33 answers

How can I recover my confidence after upward feedback that was less than complimentary? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 22, 2007 - 15 answers

How can I stop my concerns about declining health? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 29, 2006 - 4 answers

How can I feel secure and confident in myself while continuing to work on problems and goals? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 25, 2006 - 10 answers

How do I increase my self-confidence? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 19, 2006 - 13 answers

I haven't dated in awhile, but now... [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 15, 2005 - 26 answers

I'm moving into a line of work where I will have to talk to people more than usual, work with them on projects, and generally be fairly talkative and sociable. I have no trouble with my friends or people I know well, but sometimes, with new people, I clam up, or talk quickly in one long monotonous ramble - yet sometimes I'm fine. It's basically a lack of confidence in myself - how can I trick myself into feeling confident, or at least talking normally?
posted by anonymous on Jan 24, 2005 - 17 answers