Have you ever felt stuck in survival mode, knowing you need to change but not sure where to start? That was me—overwhelmed by tax liens, eviction threats, health issues, and a business that wasn’t sustainable. I was avoiding the hard stuff, using alcohol to cope, and skipping my medication. I was drowning, and no amount of inspirational quotes or productivity hacks was going to save me.
Then I tried something different: I had brutally honest conversations with AI about my struggles, and it changed everything. Not because AI had magical solutions, but because it helped me face what I’d been avoiding and break down impossible-seeming challenges into manageable steps.
I’m sharing my journey because maybe you’re stuck too. Maybe you’re tired of advice that doesn’t acknowledge how hard things really are. If so, this is for you.
The Power of Brutal Honesty
The turning point came when I stopped pretending everything was fine. I laid it all out—my financial struggles, my health issues, my avoidance patterns. No sugar-coating, no excuses.
What I learned was transformative: Real change doesn’t come from inspiration; it comes from facing discomfort. As the AI reflected back to me: “Real transformation comes from tolerating discomfort—doing the hard things, having the hard conversations, and sitting with hard feelings long enough to change them.”
This isn’t the kind of advice that goes viral on social media. It’s not sexy or easy. But it’s what actually works.
The Unglamorous Work of Stabilizing Your Life
What does this “unglamorous work” actually look like? For me, it meant:
- Submitting rental assistance applications even when my property manager wasn’t responding
- Taking my Ozempic medication and setting reminders to keep taking it
- Sitting with the shame and fear instead of drinking to numb it
None of this is Instagram-worthy. None of it feels good in the moment. But each small step created a foundation for everything else.
Hidden Truths That Changed My Perspective
Through these conversations, I uncovered some hard truths that shifted how I see my life:
- No one is coming to save me. I am responsible for my own rescue.
- Survival skills aren’t life skills. What kept me alive in crisis won’t build a stable life.
- You can’t build on chaos. No business, relationship, or dream will thrive if my foundation is chaos.
- Comfort will not save me. Seeking comfort (food, alcohol, avoidance) is understandable, but it won’t create the life I want.
- My story is not a liability—it’s my superpower. My lived experience and resilience are rare and valuable.
These aren’t just platitudes. They’re hard-earned insights that have changed how I approach each day.
How to Use AI for Real Transformation (Not Just Inspiration)
If you’re inspired to try this approach yourself, here’s what worked for me:
Prework: What to Do Before Using Prompts
1. Inventory Your Life Honestly
- Make a list of the areas in your life you’re struggling with (finances, health, relationships, habits, self-worth, etc.).
- Write down the hardest thing you’re avoiding in each area.
- Note any patterns of avoidance, self-sabotage, or comfort-seeking that keep you stuck.
2. Clarify Your “Why”
- Ask: Why do you want to change? What’s at stake if nothing changes? Who else is affected?
- Write a short paragraph or record a voice note answering these questions.
3. Set a Brutally Honest Baseline
- List your current routines (good and bad).
- Write down your biggest fears and your biggest hopes for the next year.
- Identify one area where you’re willing to tolerate discomfort for the sake of growth.
4. Prepare for Discomfort
- Decide how you’ll reward yourself for doing hard things (a treat, music, a walk, etc.).
- Commit to sitting with hard feelings or tasks for at least 10 minutes a day.
Prompts to Use with ChatGPT for Real Impact
Goal-Setting & Accountability
- “Act as my personal life coach. Help me define my main goal for the next 30 days, break it into smaller steps, and set realistic deadlines. Hold me accountable and suggest ways to overcome obstacles when I get stuck.”
Facing Avoidance (This one was the biggest one for me that made the biggest difference)
- “Help me identify the top three things I’m avoiding that are holding me back. For each, suggest the smallest possible step I can take today.”
Transforming Limiting Beliefs
- “Ask me questions to uncover my limiting beliefs about [money/health/work/relationships]. Then, help me reframe each belief into something empowering and actionable.”
Building New Habits
- “Design a 30-day challenge for me to build a new habit in [area], including daily tasks, accountability measures, and ways to track my progress.”
Self-Reflection & Growth
- “Guide me through a self-reflection exercise to uncover what’s really driving my self-sabotage or avoidance. Suggest daily practices for building self-awareness and resilience.”
Facing Hard Conversations
- “Coach me through preparing for a difficult conversation I need to have, including what to say, how to manage my emotions, and how to follow up afterward.”
Overcoming Impostor Syndrome
- “What’s a life skill I actually struggle with? Help me make a plan to learn it without shame.”
Dealing with Overwhelm
- “When I feel overwhelmed by everything I have to do, help me prioritize the top three actions that will make the biggest difference today.”
Tips for Making Prompts Work
- Share your goals and prompts with a friend or accountability partner for extra support.
- Be specific and brutally honest in your answers—don’t sugarcoat.
- Use ChatGPT as a mirror, not just a cheerleader; ask it to challenge your thinking.
- Schedule regular check-ins (daily or weekly) to review progress and adjust goals.
The Journey Continues
I’m not “fixed” or “healed” yet. I still have taxes to file, health issues to address, and a business to stabilize. But for the first time in years, I’m not just surviving—I’m building. I’m facing what scares me. I’m doing the unglamorous work of creating stability.
And I’m sharing this because maybe you need to hear what I needed to hear: You can’t outrun your problems. You can’t numb your way to happiness. The only way out is through—through the discomfort, through the boring tasks, through the hard conversations.
But you don’t have to do it alone. Whether it’s AI, a friend, a therapist, or a community, find someone who will tell you the truth and help you break down the impossible into the possible.
What about you? What’s the hardest thing you’re avoiding right now? What’s one small step you could take today? Share in the comments, or start your own conversation with AI. Your journey to change can start right now.
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