I agree....differentiation is fascinating! So yes, I think confidence is a piece of self differentiation but it also involves being secure enough in yourself that no matter the response of the other person, you're good. You're still okay with you and who you are, you're not dependent on another person to be okay with something so that you can be okay with it. That being said, you have to be able to accept the response of the other person, no strings attached. Whether it's anger, rejection, gladness....whatever, you have to let them have their response and not take it as a response toward who you are. It's their response toward an idea or a thought, it's not a response toward you (even though it may feel like it is, it's not because we are more than our ideas and thoughts). Does any of that make sense??? I should write an article on this..hahaha