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 “Inside Out.” Jack’s core insight: “The secret is that the more we manage our own internal conversation, the more effectively the interpersonal conversation tends to flow.” Just as you’d 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. Here’s Jack’s approach to emotional preparation: First, identify the emotion that’s 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. Jack’s prompt: “I’m noticing that I feel anxious. I want to understand it better. I wanna have a conversation with the anxiety within me.” He includes various ways the AI can simulate anxiety authentically. Third, engage with what emerges. The AI generates anxious thoughts like “What if he blows up again, like last time? I don’t wanna deal with that energy today” and “Maybe it’s not even worth bringing up.” 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: “If they do this thing, then I’m afraid they’ll stop listening to me. If I lose my footing in the moment, I’ll doubt myself.” Fifth, use the understanding to prepare. Jack prompts: “Guide me through how to actually use this understanding and approach the conversation in a calm, focused, confident manner.” He adds a crucial detail: “Present them one at a time” because “when I’m feeling overwhelmed, having a deluge of great advice is not actually helpful.” Jack emphasizes: “The more that I get to know those emotions in advance of the conversation, the less likely it is that I’m 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 I’m having.” ➡️ Don’t 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 don’t unconsciously drive the interaction. Check out Jack Cohen’s course (not sponsored, he’s just the real deal).