If only

One of the best tricks in my repertoire is asking questions I know the answer to. It creates the illusion that I don't know the answer to something and allows me to guide the thought process of the subject towards a specific conclusion. In essence it tricks them into thinking they came up with the answer by themselves, if they come up with an answer at all.
Another good trick is telling a false personal story that has to do with the issue the subject is having. I'll tell a story about how I performed some great deed in order to illustrate that a particular event is even possible. I'll tell another person's story as my own or I'll modify some lesser known folktale. It works surprisingly well because if you never let on that you are where you are, people assume that you're at where they are at. It's an interesting logical fallacy that I often play with. I'll adjust my experience to meet theirs and then modify our shared experience to match mine.

Trickster shape shifting at it's finest.

SO! A close friend of mine just told me "I just realized, you're not stupid OR weak!"

Hah.