DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend is constantly putting herself down. She cannot seem to take a compliment. Even when she gives compliments to others, she follows them with a put-down comment about herself and how inadequate she is in comparison. It's really frustrating and heartbreaking to hear. She’s been in therapy for a while now, but clearly it isn’t helping her self-esteem. How can I support and uplift my friend without feeding into the low vibrational comments she makes about herself? -- Love Yourself

DEAR LOVE YOURSELF: This is a tough one because you must take care of yourself first. That means that for now, you have to limit your interaction with this friend. By taking her in small doses, you can support her without falling into the melancholy state that she cannot release. When you two are together, encourage her to talk about her ideas. Stop her when she compares herself to others. Literally interrupt her when she starts in on the self-criticism. Redirect her to explaining or describing what she’s working on or thinking about. Tell her you want to know what’s in her mind. You don’t care about other people right now. When you can get her to focus on herself, everyone will benefit.

When she falls back into being overwhelmed by self-doubt, take your exit. Don’t stick around for that part of the engagement. This doesn’t mean, by the way, that you are abandoning her. It means you are taking care of you.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently discovered that my friend's 19-year-old daughter is posting explicit content on a subscription-based website. My friend is not aware of her daughter's activities, and I am afraid that she will be devastated if she finds out. I don't want to cause any drama or harm their relationship, but at the same time, I don't feel comfortable staying silent. I also worry about the potential consequences that this could have on the daughter's future and reputation. What should I do? Should I talk to my friend about what I found, or should I stay quiet? -- Tricky Situation

DEAR TRICKY SITUATION: By all means, talk to your friend, but do so with caution. Let her know you have something very sensitive to discuss with her. Tell her you believe she needs to take it in and think about it before reacting. Get her to agree. Then show her what you have discovered. Seeing it for herself will be disturbing, but it will also be undeniable. Suggest that she not reveal who told her; this way, you have the opportunity to continue to monitor her daughter’s behavior if she blocks her mother from all social media platforms. Otherwise, just listen and be there for her. This soon-to-be distraught mom cannot control her adult daughter's life, but hopefully she still has enough influence to appeal to the daughter’s thoughts of her future. If the wrong person sees these posts, her future could absolutely be in jeopardy.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: A few years ago, a guy I went to college with said some really hurtful things about me and then blocked me on all social media platforms. Unfortunately, he's a well-known creative in my city, and his opinion carries weight among our peers. I’m a less popular creative. Needless to say, the fact that he threw dirt on my name really stung.

Now it seems fate has brought us together once again. We'll both be attending the same event this weekend. I never expected to see him again, but here we are. I feel like I should address the things he said about me and clear the air. However, I'm not sure how to approach the situation. I’m worried that because I’ve kept all of this anger toward him bottled up for so long, I don’t know how it will come out when I see him. How do I express my hurt and anger without stooping to his level? I want to handle this in a way that reflects well on me and doesn't make the situation worse. -- Speaking My Piece

DEAR SPEAKING MY PIECE: Breathe -- and remind yourself of your value. Review why you are attending this event and why you are worthy of being there. When you see this guy, say hello and observe him first. Check out how he reacts to you and to others. If you can naturally claim a private moment with him, calmly ask him why he made disparaging comments about you in the past. Listen for his answer. You can tell him that his comments baffled and hurt you. Add that you hope that since you both work in the same field, you can create peace between you now. Stay calm when you speak, no matter how heated you may feel inside. In this way, you maintain control of yourself in your interaction with him.

DEAR HARRIETTE: After years of working in the corporate world, I have realized that it's not for me. I'm considering returning to the service industry, where I feel I'm better suited. The service industry is the only experience I have outside of my office jobs. However, I'm worried that I may be seen as taking a step back in my career. How can I smooth this transition for my mental health without feeling like a failure? -- Back To Serving

DEAR BACK TO SERVING: Take a step back and look around. There are many roles to be filled in our world. Corporate jobs represent a small part of the pie. Don’t get caught up in appearances. Follow your heart and make a plan. Working in the service industry can be excellent and lucrative. What would you like to do in the space of service? Do you have the education to support your dream? If not, go back to school and get it. You may want to delay leaving your job until you get your degree, as it will be easier to pay for it with the corporate paycheck.

Create a plan and put it into action. Survey the landscape to see what interests you the most. Determine what the pay scale is for your areas of interest. With strategy, work toward your goal. Your focus and research will help you stay the course and better value the choice you will make.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: Earlier this year, I met a guy I really liked. We talked a lot and went out once, but nothing really came of it. More specifically, I thought we liked each other a lot, but when I came back to town after spring break, he kind of iced me out. Whenever I see him now, he doesn’t even speak to me. That is weird, but I am trying to move on. We live in a small town, though, so I see him around a lot.

Fast forward to now. I met a guy who invited me out. He is cool, and I can see myself hanging with him. The thing is, most of his friends are connected in one way or another to the other guy. It feels awkward. I never really dated the other guy, but things ended oddly. Should I go out with the new guy even though I will probably run into the old guy or his friends if we start going out? -- The World Is Too Small

DEAR THE WORLD IS TOO SMALL: Live your life. Do not let this man, who didn’t have enough respect for you to end things gracefully, prevent you from dating anybody you choose. Assume the positive. If you do see him or his friends when you are out with this new person, say hello and keep it moving. Focus on your life and what’s happening in it right now, not on a thwarted moment with someone who isn’t courageous enough to step up and be a man.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I met a man with a really cool business, and I approached him about working with him this summer as an intern. We had a great conversation afterward, and he told me I could start whenever I want, but then he told me that internships at his company are unpaid. He does work with schools to offer college credit, though.

I am a college student on financial aid, and I need to work in the summer and save money for the school year. I really want a chance to work with this man. Do I dare tell him my situation? I know that lots of companies offer only unpaid internships, especially if they are small businesses. But no matter what, I can’t afford that. -- Do I Speak Up?

DEAR DO I SPEAK UP?: By all means, explain your situation to this man. You never know. He may be able to make an exception for you. When you reach back to him, tell him what you believe you can do to add value to his company. In the end, people are hired for jobs because they have skills to offer or interest in what the company does. Pitch yourself as being worth it. Then negotiate for what you need in order to work there. If he agrees, work as if you are making a million dollars. One day, maybe you will!

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions toaskharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)