$486 – How I turned *the* dreaded conversation into a collaborative, amicable chat

Dreading the difficult conversation happens to the best of us. Even I, after writing about how to overcome the dread, did.

I know I wrote that if you stay open to whatever response you get, you’ll relax. And when you relax, you stop trying to control the conversation. From there, you can feel grateful, because even an unwanted outcome is still information––it’s still showing you which doors close and which open.

Still. I wanted to move out of here ASAP.

My son's interest is what matters most to me, and here, I know he risks going back to jail at any time––not because he might commit a crime but because that's how the system works.

So, again, I plotted: when's the right time? What's the most convincing angle? Phone, email, or face-to-face?

And this morning, in the most casual and unexpected way, without having planned it or rehearsed the exact words, it happened: I just asked. He said "ok." Zero nerves, all friendliness and mutual respect.

Coaching a former client for a difficult conversation she needed to have, I told her: "just stay in the moment with all your senses and you'll know exactly when's the right time." It seemed like I had forgotten my own suggestion but today I stumbled into its truth.

One more time, I discover that presence is life's key ingredient. When you learn to be present, you own all of your life.

What becomes possible when you let the moment lead to its truth?

Love,

Carolina