Dear Mouse

Dear Mouse,

I sympathise completely with your confidence problem. Having spent most of my life in exactly the same situation, I know how hard it is to gear yourself up to confront others. The uncontrollable tremors in the hands when you stand in front of a room full of people, the standing in a corner, wishing you had what it took to just go talk to that guy. I've found that it helps to step outside yourself occasionally - go visit an out-of-town friend, and go out to a club. Dress up, and act up (just a little!). This has always allowed me to let down my guard a bit - after all, you probably won't see those people again. The same holds true if I go to another town, or another section of the city I don't usually frequent. Acting a bit like someone else, perhaps like someone you admire for their forthright character, helps you become that way yourself, a little bit at a time. This is not an overnight cure, but it's working for me. And never forget - smile, even when you don't feel like smiling, because you never know who's falling in love with your smile!