Book excerpt: Many of us experience being overly sensitive and more reactive than we'd like to be throughout the day at work, but why? When we are overly reliant on external validation and reactive to external pressures--driven by fear of judgment, criticism, and failure--we lose our composure. The good news is, like any important skill, composure is something you can learn and cultivate by creating strong personal boundaries, building confidence, developing self-awareness, and aligning yourself and your values. This is what is explored profoundly in this book. Drawing on more than twenty years of experience as corporate executives, executive coaches, and their expertise in neurolinguistics and trauma and PTSD therapy, Kate Purmal and her colleagues Lee Epting and Joshua Isaac Smith deliver a unique approach to navigating work environments that don't feel psychologically safe. Using proven techniques, COMPOSURE shows how you can compose yourself to elevate your presence at work, at home, and, ultimately, within yourself.