WHEN SOMEONE MAKES YOU FEEL SMALL

No-one can do this - unless you've given them permission to do so.

Confidence doesn't have to be a zero sum game. When you know, love, and are at peace with who you are you can work smarter, better, and harder simply  because your ego is out of the way. When you remove ego-stoking as your top priority, you're freed up to actually work - Effortlessly without no one  holding you back. So go, do great work! Don't just live to feed an ego that will never be satisfied! And even more, unencumbered, you can form more meaningful, positive relationships.

No-one walks up to you with an emotion on a plate and says 'you have to do this emotion now.'

Your feeling small is YOUR chosen response to whatever happened and you could just as well choose another.

What response would you rather show and why? What will be better about it? And what does better mean in this context?

What needs to change in you that will empower you to show that new response?

A person who tries to cut someone else down is feeling small inside. You will not help them by agreeing with them or joining them in this manipulation.

First off,  no one makes us feel small if we didn't give them the power to do so, you need to go inside yourself and identify why you are choosing to feel small and what you are gaining from that?

If your answer is 'nothing,' then you are not seeing the truth that is at work here and you are not yet ready for change.

To be ready for change you have to refuse to accept 'Nothing' and 'I don't know' as your answers, and do some delving.

Then, you must listen to what your mind throws up. It will show you the truth and you can use that to forge a new response.

I'm working on more deeply cultivating and soul searching that solidifies confidence. It's a process of recognizing when my ego feels threatened. I've found that when I feel my hackles rise, perhaps in self-defense, perhaps in the flush of pride, at that moment my concern for others departs.

"I can hear my ego bark and snort, 'I am important! You should know!' What to do with the guard dog of my ego? A pat on the head and a little treat- just some reassurance: You know what self? You are important - but trying to prove it here is a waste of time and not very nice."

Finally, when you inevitably sit with somebody who makes you feel small, judge for yourself where the toxin comes from.  Self defense, or just a full blown idiot? Either way, shake it off and move on. There are better ways to spend your time. You can love you. Others don't define you. Want to go above and beyond? Be extra humble - and quiet. Hold back your reactive, self-protecting measures. This person's behavior doesn't merit opening up. You can be disarming, self assured and you'll actually walk away bigger.