Some people have been driving a hard bargain lately, but fortunately you've been feeling good enough about yourself to stand up to the competition. It helps a lot -- not a little, but a lot -- to have some independence from the emotional projections of others. It helps even more to see that, for the most part, people usually end up being who we make them out to be. You happen to be in a moment where if you are direct with people, they will be direct with you. If you feel harassed or neglected, how you respond will strongly influence whether they decide you're worth supporting and paying attention to. Therefore, concentrate on feeling good and doing everything in your power to work for your own cause. Make your stress level the first thing you adjust, preferably downward. And give the people around you every opportunity to be generous -- the chances are, they will be.