Q: Bow to denote respect, as you would in a non-corporate situation, but be especially mindful of the rank of those to whom you bow. Japanese culture is highly hierarchical, meaning that that older people have higher social status than younger people, men usually have more status than women, and senior executives demand more respect than junior executives. Japanese businessmen often exchange business cards before bowing or shaking hands. Make sure that your business card clearly states your rankthis will determine who your negotiating counterpart should be. If you are bowing to someone who ranks higher than you in his/her respective company, make sure to avert your gaze to show respect. Bear in mind that higher-ranking individuals may not bow backbowing is often a one-way gesture in practice. Cross your legs and ankles while standing, then bend your knees slightly. Lift the fabric of your dress out to your sides. This is a traditional European and American way of showing deference, but its use has declined sharply over the past century. Curtsy in any situation that might call for a bow. As with bowing, the curtsy is still regarded as a polite gesture, but it will come across as a bit outdated. In Western culture, it is common to bow after a speech or performance to acknowledge the applause of the crowd. As your audience claps (or snaps, cheers, etc.), put your right hand on the center of your chest. Breathe in deeply. Bend your back. Briefly bow your head, then stand back up. Do not bow for too long, nor too quickly. Bow for 3-5 seconds, but do not let it drag on. Stand still. Do not shuffle about while you bow.
A: Bow in a corporate setting. Consider curtsying if you are wearing a skirt or dress. Bow for an audience.

Q: Find community in a church that affirms your orientation. There are congregations of even the most traditionally homophobic denominations that declare themselves "Affirming" or LGBTQ friendly. Acceptance and affirmation has grown among most U.S. Christian groups, and over half of U.S. Christians accept gay people. Search for churches in the Affirming Church Directory: http://www.gaychurch.org/find_a_church/ Most denominations have gay-friendly churches, but you might have luck with a UCC, Quaker, or Unitarian Universalist church. Look for churches that have LGBTQ affinity groups, Gay Straight Alliances, mentoring programs for queer youth, and diversity-affirming committees. Consider finding a church with an LGBTQ pastor. If there are no congregations near where you live, consider streaming online church services from a gay-affirming church and participating in related message boards. It can feel like you have to choose between having a faith community and a queer community, but you don't! In the United States, almost half of gay and lesbian people identify as Christian, while many more belong to other faith traditions. Consider joining an interfaith group for gay people. If you are living in an isolated area, or if you are unable or afraid to meet other gay Christians in person, look online. There are infinite message boards, social media groups, and websites for gay Christians. Just search for what you are looking for, make some friends, and ask all your burning questions. Find a general LGBTQ friendly message board and start a discussion about faith.
A: Find an affirming congregation. Connect with other LGBTQ people of faith. Join an online community.

Q: When your self-esteem is low, you may forget about all of the things you have achieved. Get a piece of paper and set a timer for 20 minutes. Write down all of your accomplishments. Nothing is too big or too small to be included on your list. For example, passing a test, finishing a project at school, making the honor roll, or making 1st chair in the band are all accomplishments. You can repeat this exercise anytime you are feeling bad about yourself. The more you listen to the negative thoughts about yourself, the more you will believe them. These thoughts are often not true. Make a list of the negative thoughts you have about yourself and then write a positive statement to refute each thought. If you think, "I am a failure," refute that by saying, "I am successful at many things." If you write, "Nobody cares about me," refute that by saying, "I have people that care for me." Read the positive statements out loud. Keep the list by your bed. You may need to look at the list daily. It can be easy to look at another person and feel less important, less attractive, or less accomplished. However, you do not really know someone else's life or what it is really like to be them. The only person you are competing against is yourself. Make a list of your strengths and weakness. Some of your weaknesses may be things you can work on. For example, one of your weaknesses may be that you are late everywhere you go. Learning to be on time is something that you can definitely improve upon. By focusing on yourself, you will spend less time focusing on other people. Your goals should be small and something that you can actually achieve. You do not want to set yourself up for failure. Reaching your goals is a process, and you may experience set backs or not achieve as fast as you had planned to. Just keep trying; never give up. If you have not been exercising at all and your goal is to run a marathon in one month, you would be setting yourself up for failure. A more realistic goal would be to run a 5k in three months and following a consistent running plan. Using the SMART goals framework can help you set realistic goals for yourself. Exercising, getting enough sleep, and eating well can make you feel better about yourself. Exercise releases endorphins that can improve your mood. If you do not sleep enough, your negative feelings about yourself may feel more intense. A balanced diet, high in fruits and vegetables, can improve your mood as well. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. Most people need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. If you are a teenager, you need a little more sleep. Try to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Try to do at least one thing every day that you enjoy. Take a walk, watch a television show, read a magazine article, listen to music, or spend time with a friend. When you spend time with others, make sure that they are positive people who make you feel good about yourself. You can also do something nice for someone else (e.g. give someone a card, smile at a person, volunteer) . You will typically feel better about yourself when you do something good for another person. Engaging in activities that you enjoy is another way you can take care of yourself.
A:
Make a list of your accomplishments. Turn your negative thoughts into positive thoughts. Stop comparing yourself to other people. Set realistic goals. Take care of your physical health. Do activities that you enjoy.