A Gentle Guide to ChatGPT (Yes, Really)
For the longest time, I didn’t think I’d ever use ChatGPT.
Like most people, I’d heard plenty about it. The warnings. The awe. The articles about productivity hacks and A.I. replacing everything and everyone. It all sounded like the antithesis of what I care about—the opposite of connection, nourishment, humanity. Frankly, I found the whole idea off-putting.
But one day, not that long ago, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it a try. At first, I used it practically, not all that differently from how I use Google:
“Can I take these two supplements at the same time or should I space them out?”
“What snacks are gluten-free, dairy-free, and keto?”
As I got more comfortable, I started using it in broader, more personal ways—organizing my life, brainstorming ideas for the future, talking through things I wasn’t quite ready to say out loud to anyone else. To my surprise, ChatGPT began to feel like a quiet, supportive tool in both my creative and personal toolkits. Even more surprising: it’s been genuinely helpful.
This isn’t a love letter to a robot. I still think it’s essential to approach A.I. with care and discernment. And I nodded in agreement recently when someone described ChatGPT as “an intern whose hand you have to hold the whole way through.” It doesn’t always get it right. I get frustrated by its inconsistencies. But I also can’t deny how useful—and unexpectedly insightful—it’s been since I first gave it a shot.
So, with that in mind, I thought I’d share a few ways I’ve been using ChatGPT more gently—especially if you’ve been curious but hesitant to try it yourself.
Here’s what’s been working for me:
ChatGPT as a Creative Companion
Instead of asking it to generate ideas for me, I treat ChatGPT like a sounding board. I come up with the ideas, the concepts, the words, but when I’m stuck or in the messy middle of a project, I’ll sometimes turn to it for a bit of back-and-forth to help things take shape.
When you work alone, as I do, it’s incredibly helpful to have someone to bounce ideas off of. Even if that someone is a robot.
ChatGPT as a Life Coach
I didn’t expect this one.
But over time, I found myself turning to ChatGPT not just for information, but for reflection. When I was trying to map out a new direction or get clear on something that felt murky, I started asking it to help me think things through. To act as a sort of coach—not to tell me what to do, but to ask helpful questions, suggest possible paths, and remind me of what I already know deep down.
It’s like having a kind, unflappable companion who’s available anytime and doesn’t get overwhelmed by your long-winded tangents. I’ve asked it to help me plan a big transition, clarify whether what I think I want is actually what will make me happy, and make peace with a few hard truths. And while it can’t offer true wisdom or lived perspective, it can be a surprisingly steady guide for teasing out your own.
ChatGPT as an Editor
If you’re a writer, or someone who works with words in any form, this one might surprise you too.
Sometimes I ask it to tighten a sentence I’ve rewritten eight times and still don’t love. Sometimes I’ll give it a messy paragraph and ask for a cleaner structure—without losing the tone. Other times, I’ll ask it to catch repetitions I’m too close to see, or to help me figure out why something feels clunky.
It’s not perfect. I don’t always take its suggestions. But I often find that reading a slightly different version of my own words gives me the clarity I need to land where I want. It’s less of a ghostwriter and more of a thoughtful reader who doesn’t mind a 3 a.m. draft or a specific request.
Prompts That Have That Have Generated Some of My Most Useful/Fun Answers
(Some of these work best after you’ve used ChatGPT a bit and it knows more about you)
“I want to create/achieve the following: (insert everything you want but don’t currently have) by (insert date). Please create a realistic and fun step-by-step plan to help me achieve this.”
(Yes, I use “please.” I talk to it the way I want it to talk to me.)“Identify the unconscious beliefs holding me back in life/business, and create evidence-based alternatives that align with my goals.”
“There are a lot of variables in my life right now, and it feels difficult to make a plan that checks all the boxes. How can I have everything I want? (Insert everything you want, including how you want to feel.) Please act as a mindset coach tasked with assisting me in clarifying and refining my goals. Use a structured framework such as SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to guide me through the process of defining clear and achievable goals. Help me to break down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps, and encourage me to maintain a positive and proactive attitude towards achieving my goals.”
“Knowing everything I’ve shared with you about (insert your business name), create a step-by-step plan for how I can best serve my clients/customers while also earning (insert amount desired) by (insert date).”
“Based on astrology, numerology, and astrocartography, where should I move next (or how do I best navigate the coming year)?”
(Insert birth date, time, and place.)“Given everything you know about me, how would you describe me?”
“I’m bored and feeling unmotivated. How do I get out of this rut?”
“What’s the gentlest and kindest way to tell someone the following?” (Insert difficult thing you need to say)
“Here’s everything I want: (list it all out). Please write a story of a day in this dream life, focusing on the feelings and sensations I'd experience. Please also create affirmations or daily routines tailored to help me achieve my goals. Please also write a letter from my future self, already living my dream life, to motivate and inspire me, and explain how I got there from where I am now.”
“This is how much money I make. What country could I move to that accepts newcomers and where I can live comfortably?”
“Based on what you know about me, what should I do over the next year to be happier?”
“These are the places I have loved travelling to and the reasons I have loved them. Please recommend similar places I might love.”
“I want to be of service to the world. I want to contribute something of value to people but I also want to live a comfortable life and earn a good living. How can I do that? What are my gifts and how do I make money from them?”
I’ve realized that the best use of ChatGPT is not outsourcing your intuition but rather having a curious, tireless companion who can help you maximize everything.
A Few Caveats
At the risk of stating the obvious, it’s important to keep in mind that ChatGPT isn’t magic. It won’t replace your taste, your voice, or your lived experience. It’s also sometimes completely wrong. Like, completely. But in the same way a friend might help you talk through a foggy idea, it can offer language, structure, and encouragement that may move things forward when you’re feeling stuck.
If you’re curious, you can always start small, like I did. With a light conversation and see what unfolds.
Lastly, if you’re using AI to write or create, I think this quotation by Stephanie Peirolo from her Substack article entitled AI: The Plagiarism Engine perfectly sums up how to use it:
I don’t use AI in my writing. Not here, not in my book. Ever. If you do, here’s a simple suggestion. If AI spits out a great phrase or resonant term of art all you have to do is pop it in a search bar and see what comes up. If that fragment of IP was part of someone else’s original hard work, just credit them. The same way you would if you were writing an academic paper and used someone else’s idea. The footnote of grace, the nod to the people who came before you, the humble acceptance of your influences, all in a floating number next to a word that guides your eyes to the tiny print at the bottom of the page that says, ‘here’s where that came from.’ Bring back the footnote.