Try coming up with ridiculous reasons – the man who walked through the woods just saw a beautul bird and wanted to take a closer look but it flew away by the time he got to it. The man who wouldn’t ride the elevator just remembered something he forgot in his office.
If ever someone does something that seams wrong (not sure if that is the right word to use but it was the best I could think of) I would use this technique and I must say I find it helpful. You’d be surprised by how many times the most far fetched excuses turn out to be closer to the truth than you realized.
And remember Elanor Rosevelt’s words ” No one can make you feel inferior without your concent.” You ARE a princess – never forget it!
I hope this helps!