Jack Cohen shows how to use AI to simulate and understand difficult emotions that arise before challenging conversations, using a technique inspired by the movie āInside Out.ā
Jackās core insight: āThe secret is that the more we manage our own internal conversation, the more effectively the interpersonal conversation tends to flow.ā Just as youād get curious and have a conversation to understand another person better, Jack uses AI to have conversations with parts of himself that might derail difficult discussions.
Hereās Jackās approach to emotional preparation:
First, identify the emotion thatās most likely to interfere. After audience voting, Jack focuses on anxiety (which beat anger 29 to 13 in the chat). The goal is to get outside the emotion to look back at it more clearly.
Second, prompt the AI to simulate that emotional part. Jackās prompt: āIām noticing that I feel anxious. I want to understand it better. I wanna have a conversation with the anxiety within me.ā He includes various ways the AI can simulate anxiety authentically.
Third, engage with what emerges. The AI generates anxious thoughts like āWhat if he blows up again, like last time? I donāt wanna deal with that energy todayā and āMaybe itās not even worth bringing up.ā Jack recognizes this as anxiety scanning for danger - its protective function.
Fourth, dig deeper to understand the fear underneath. When Jack asks what the fear is beneath the anxiety, the AI reveals: āIf they do this thing, then Iām afraid theyāll stop listening to me. If I lose my footing in the moment, Iāll doubt myself.ā
Fifth, use the understanding to prepare. Jack prompts: āGuide me through how to actually use this understanding and approach the conversation in a calm, focused, confident manner.ā He adds a crucial detail: āPresent them one at a timeā because āwhen Iām feeling overwhelmed, having a deluge of great advice is not actually helpful.ā
Jack emphasizes: āThe more that I get to know those emotions in advance of the conversation, the less likely it is that Iām gonna be derailed by something or even just distracted by something happening within me, which means my attention will be more available to focus on the interaction that Iām having.ā
ā”ļø Donāt let unexamined emotions hijack your difficult conversations. Use AI to dialogue with anxious or angry parts of yourself beforehand, understanding their protective intent so they donāt unconsciously drive the interaction.
Check out Jack Cohenās course (not sponsored, heās just the real deal).
Soft skills & hard conversations
Inner dialogue before a meeting
Use AI to simulate and understand difficult emotions before challenging conversations