My Favourite Prompt
I use conversational AI several times a day, for drafting a database structure, shaping a talk, or polishing writing before I hit 'post.' The key to getting value? Using AI as a mirror and a sparring partner, not as a ghost-writer.
The simple, effective prompt that helps me think better for myself is:
“I'm writing this post for LinkedIn. Please evaluate this copy for clarity, grammar, relevance, strategic alignment, and catchiness for this platform. Then offer suggestions. Copy /// [draft copy here]///.”
This one prompt changed how I approach my work.
Why I Love It
Instant feedback. The system responds immediately, which can speed things up. Sure, I get the familiar warm glow of flattering feedback “Excellent draft 👍”…but I know it's just how the system is tuned. I’m not here for the dopamine. I’m here for the reflection.
Actionable recommendations. Clear suggestions. No ego—mine, I mean. I don’t feel defensive, because there’s no judgment in the exchange. It doesn’t think I’m brilliant or terrible, it just responds. That emotional neutrality helps me look at my work more clearly.
Gemini even gives me scores. I nod, tweak a few lines, and keep what feels right. If I agree, I adjust. If not, I move on. Either way, I stay in charge.
Distance is the real magic. AI reflects my work back to me, helping me see it with fresh eyes. It helps me spot clutter, tighten my arguments, and clarify my intent. I use it as a tool to slow down my thinking just enough that I can see my blind spots.
This marks a subtle shift in my relationship with AI: I’m not asking it to think for me, I’m asking it to help me think better for myself.
Why It Works
Boosts my productivity. But only when I know what I want to say. If I’m fuzzy, the system gets fuzzy. Clarity in, clarity out.
Saves human energy. No chatbot is replacing thoughtful human review, and it often takes a few revisions before I’m happy with it. So I save human feedback for the final check. (Because my husband loves me, but not enough to read five drafts of one article.)
Aligns with Mindful Trust practice. Using AI to evaluate my writing adds intentional friction—a pause, a second opinion, a nudge to question my own assumptions. This is friction by design. I don’t accept suggestions automatically, I use them as invitations to think harder. I trust AI to help me, not to decide for me. And I trust myself to stay in the driver’s seat.
And the result? I feel confident enough to hit publish!
It’s not about trusting the machine. It’s about building trustworthy habits around it.
Try It Yourself
What’s your favourite prompt right now? And more importantly, what do you use it for?
Your prompts are a window into your thinking habits. Use them intentionally, and they’ll help you think more clearly — not faster, just better.
(P.S. I learned the /// delimiter trick today. It keeps the copy clean and distinct for the AI, and I’m liking it so far.)