Forced to see a Minister.... UGHHH

[Angrboda]

Thank you for those tips! Here's the thing, he's not a stranger... I know him.

Then adjust it to fit the facts of your situation. Is this someone you know well enough to trust implicitly? If one of your friends were trying to do this to you, would you trust them, or would you be wary? Ask this person if it's reasonable for you to effectively "put your life in their hands" given your current relationship. Would you trust this person to guard your sleeping body if you were hunkered down in a war zone, behind enemy lines? I doubt you'd say yes to the question of unconditional trust of this person. Just be plain about that. You can also suggest that skepticism is a good trait to have.

You're not playing a game, though there are stakes involved. Just focus on the simple truths. Stay in your center. Try to avoid being dragged away from the simple and tangible. If you find yourself being dragged into abstract or fuzzy things, just shake your head and return to the simple. Say, "I just don't know about that," or "I find that confusing." Being confused or not knowing does not mean you need to be willing to give them freebies. If they follow by implying that your confusion and not knowing suggests that you should remain open, simply say how you feel about that. (Ignorance or confusion are not good bases to rest belief upon.) You don't have to lie, or remember grand strategies. Just be honest, and focus on the simple things that you can be sure of.


(ETA: And it's okay to feel scared and vulnerable, and to tell them as much. Like ignorance, feeling vulnerable isn't an excuse to believe. It's a good reason to justify not taking any big steps. If he or she makes you feel frightened or vulnerable, just acknowledge those feelings, say, "I'm feeling frightened/scared/wary/anxious/vulnerable, and find it hard to be open / trusting when I feel this way. I trust my feelings when they urge caution.")