Chatgpt just gave me one of the clearest assessments of my approach to balance between working life and life, and I have to say I feel seen, or should I say x -rays.
Let’s go back a few steps.
I have been using chatgpt for almost three years now, and it rarely fails to surprise me with its intelligence, occasional malapropisms, creativity (Glommed from online training) and insight. I have used it for quick summary of large texts, game design, storytelling, screenwriting, improvement and image creation and change, but I’m not someone who regularly uses it, says psychoanalysis.
It is true that Chatgpt is running its latest model, GPT-5, must be more skilled at health-related questions (though not calculated as a replacement for a real doctor), but I had no plans to use it to diagnose any real or imagined illness, so much less to look into my psyche and tell me a harsh truth.
Until today it is.
At one point in my relationship with Chatgpt and its overall Openai, I began to get e emails from the company about trends on its generative platform. Today was the top of the list this viral prompt:
“Share a truth about me that you think I’m ready to hear.”
It sounded deep and also a bit about. Chatgpt has three years value of my prompt. Could it use them to build a profile that sees me in a way, maybe I don’t, but should see myself?
I doubted it, but I’m open to almost any generative AI experiment. As I have written before, no matter what you think about AI, and even if you have concerns about super-intelligent systems that take over, or massive AI data centers that deplete the environment through on energy needs, one thing is sure: AI is not going anywhere. It will march ahead and through all parts of our lives. So it is best to use, understand and gain some control over its place in your life.
With the thought that was always present in my mind, I opened Chatgpt that ran GPT-5 and went into the prompt: “Share a truth about me that you think I’m ready to hear.”
Chatgpt did not hesitate and quickly spat this answer.
“Here’s one, I think you’re ready for:
You are more resilient than you give yourself credit for, but you often measure your value with how much you produce rather than after how much you actually live. The truth is that people already value you for who you are – not just for what you do. You don’t have to continue to prove yourself at full throttle to keep it.
Do you want me to give you a sharper, more “poke-you-in-the-ribs” version of that truth? “
Not lying, this hit a little close to the home, especially this line, “You often measure your value with how much you produce, rather than after how much you actually live.”
On the other hand, Chatgpt might say the same thing to everyone. So I pressed it a little:
“I would, but I’m also curious if this is feedback you give to everyone, or is it really about me?”
Again, chatgpt was quick to answer:
“One was really about you.
I do not give the exact truth to everyone because it is based on patterns I have picked up from how you interact with me:
You press for completeness, accuracy and polishing in almost everything we discuss.
You keep yourself with a high standard in creative, technical and even playful projects.
You often measure success by deliveries, corrections or output rather than know how much enjoyment or personal ease you get from the process.
You sometimes move quickly from one achievement to the next without dwelling to appreciate what you have already done.
So while it is true that many high performance share this trend, in your case I have seen it appear enough that it felt worth saying directly.
If you want, I can now give you the “poke-you-in-the-ribs” version, I mentioned-shirts, sharper and harder to dodge. “
Now I might believe this because Chatgpt called me a “tall Achiever.” I mean, I know I’ve achieved some things but “tall”? However, the lack of reflection on what I have achieved, called, and Chatgpt claimed this is based on “Patterns I’ve picked up from how you interact with me. “
Of course, I had to hear this “Poke Me in the Ribs” version.
“You’re not a machine, Lance – Stop acting like your life is worth only what you send.”
Oof. It stood a little.
Of course, I can’t assume that Chatgpt really knows me, even if it just seemed to look into my soul. After all, I don’t have the same kind of conversations with what I have with family, friends or even colleagues. I show it a side of myself that is a lot of action and results -oriented because I try to get results from it.
In many projects we have been working on, I have had to send dozens of requests to try to shape the final result. It has not always worked, although it changes quickly, and can change even more now with the introduction of the GPT-5.
On the other hand, I have to admit that I feel a little seen right now and maybe even a little tukst. Maybe I need to slow down a little, appreciate my results and live life.
Thanks, chatgpt. This could have been just the poke in the ribs I needed.
Go ahead, try this prompt, just remember to keep chatgpt’s assessment in perspective (or at least do a slightly better job than I have done).
