For many years I would find myself in situations surrounded by confident, grounded, and high-achieving individuals. In these situations, I would shrink up into my stomach. There would be a weight on my shoulders. A ball in my throat. And when addressed I would make a comment that was either self-deprecating or overly agreeable.
If you have experienced this before, you probably suffer from 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 and/or 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴. This stops you from being yourself. From being confident in all social situations.From being a leader in your life. In basic terms, my value around these “high value” individuals would DROP. And it would be freaking painful and depressing. So what changed? It was my ability to 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘂𝗲𝘀.
Part of developing your self-esteem in social situations is by increasing your social intelligence. When you can learn how to read even the subtlest social queues, your confidence will naturally go up.
Why? Because then you are one step ahead of everyone in conversations. You can positively steer them towards fun, connection, and rapport. And you won’t be CLUELESS when somebody makes a witty or sarcastic comment. You will be SHARP. 
Social intelligence and reading people can be learned. Don’t settle.
