You must cultivate the ability not to respond to others, which means letting what others say just drop to the ground. Not responding can trigger fear; slowing down your response will make the other party try to please you. Human nature is both cheap and bad, so don’t be too easy to talk to. When someone deliberately asks awkward questions, just ignore them and let the words drop to the ground. Don’t put on a facade to maintain your image or fall into a position of weakness; you are not obligated to be the atmosphere maker. Respect is mutual, and there is no need to save face. Remember this and become a better version of yourself.