Your guide to keeping your cool under pressure

Everyone has moments of uber-embarrassment. While you can't avoid embarrassing moments all together, you can take steps to reduce the frequency of a faux pas.

Stress Test

Train your body to deal with nerves. Before a big meeting or event, run up a flight of stairs or do some jumping jacks -- or flash dance if you're so inclined -- to get your ticker racing. Then, while you're still breathless, rehearse your speech or presentation. When it's game time, you'll know how to perform when your body's waging a freak-out war against you.

Habit Forming

Stressing about a first date? Meeting his 'rents for the first time? While you're getting ready, cue your fave song and have a dance party for one. Creating a calm-down ritual can help soothe you.

Be Jessica Alba

Or Angelina Jolie...or Maggie Gyllenhaal...or any ultra-confident actress who pops into your gorgeous head. We want you to be you (because you're fabulous, of course). But in times of intense stress, when you're feeling oh-so-unsure, fake it. Channel someone who you think is strong and self-assured and mix her best attributes in with your own. Before you know it, you won't be acting confident. You'll just BE confident.