This prompt helps you prepare for difficult conversations with partners, friends, or family by exploring your feelings and practicing communication strategies. Perfect for anyone navigating relationship challenges, conflict resolution, or important life discussions. Claude will help you clarify your thoughts and find constructive ways to express yourself.
Works Best With: Claude (Sonnet or Opus) | Also works with: ChatGPT, Pi, Gemini
The Prompt
Help me prepare for a difficult conversation with [PERSON AND RELATIONSHIP – e.g., my partner, my friend Sarah, my parent]. Situation: – What’s happening: [DESCRIBE THE ISSUE OR CONFLICT] – How I’m feeling: [YOUR EMOTIONS – frustrated, hurt, anxious, etc.] – What I want to happen: [DESIRED OUTCOME] – What I’m afraid of: [CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONVERSATION] Please help me: 1. Clarify what I actually need to communicate (separate facts from feelings) 2. Understand their possible perspective (why they might see it differently) 3. Practice how to start the conversation (opening lines) 4. Identify potential defensive reactions and how to respond 5. Find language that expresses my needs without attacking 6. Prepare for different outcomes (best case, worst case, most likely) Ask me clarifying questions if you need more context. Be empathetic but also help me see blind spots. This is not therapy—I understand AI cannot replace professional support.
When to Use This Prompt
- You need to address a recurring conflict or unmet need in a relationship
- You’re anxious about bringing up something difficult and want to rehearse
- You’re feeling emotional and need help organizing your thoughts before talking
- You want to approach a tough topic constructively, not reactively
What You’ll Get
The AI will help you separate emotional reactions from core needs you want to communicate, explore how the other person might be experiencing the situation differently, practice conversation openers that set a collaborative tone rather than defensive one, anticipate potential pushback with suggested responses, find “I feel” language that expresses impact without blame, and mentally prepare for multiple outcomes so you’re not caught off guard. This process helps you enter the conversation grounded and clear.
Why This Prompt Works
• Emotion acknowledgment: Naming your feelings upfront helps the AI calibrate its guidance to your emotional state
• Perspective-taking: Requesting the other person’s potential viewpoint prevents one-sided thinking and builds empathy
• Practical preparation: Getting specific conversation starters and responses makes abstract anxiety into actionable practice
• Outcome mapping: Considering multiple scenarios reduces catastrophizing and builds psychological flexibility
How to Customize This Prompt
- [PERSON AND RELATIONSHIP] — Be specific about the relationship type as dynamics differ: romantic partner, parent, friend, coworker
- [DESCRIBE THE ISSUE] — Share concrete details, not just “we’re having problems” — what actually happened or isn’t happening
- [YOUR EMOTIONS] — Name multiple feelings if relevant: “frustrated and also scared I’ll lose them”
- [DESIRED OUTCOME] — Be honest about what you’re hoping for: understanding, behavior change, clarity, closure
- [CONCERNS ABOUT CONVERSATION] — Voice fears: “they’ll get defensive,” “I’ll cry and shut down,” “nothing will change”
Pro Tips
• Share conversation history: If relevant, add “we’ve tried talking about this before and [what happened]” for better context
• Request role-play: Ask Claude to “act as [person] so I can practice” for realistic conversation rehearsal
• Timing guidance: Include “when is the best time to have this conversation?” for strategic planning
• Know your limits: If the AI suggests patterns requiring professional help, take that seriously—relationship therapy exists for good reason
