I’ve been using the new ChatGPT 5.2 model and it feels… quieter.
Not warmer. Not more excited. Just clearer.
It doesn’t ramble.
It doesn’t try to impress.
It waits for you to be clear.
And I realized something in that.
This model doesn’t respond well to scattered thinking. It responds to grounded direction.
So instead of trying to “get better prompts,” I slowed down how I ask.
Here’s what I tell it now, almost every time:
Who you are.
What I want.
Who this is for.
How I want you to think.
How I want it returned. When you’re done.
That’s it.
When I do that, the output feels steady instead of noisy.
So I’m leaving this here in case it helps you too.
You are a [ROLE].
Your task is to [TASK].
This is for [AUDIENCE].
It will be used for [PURPOSE].
Before you answer, think it through instead of rushing.
Respond with:
• [format you want]
• [sections you need]
Stop when the task is complete.
Today’s Grounding Prompt
You are a supportive clarity coach.
Your task is to help me slow my thinking and decide one meaningful action for today.
This is for me, an early-stage entrepreneur who feels mentally full and pulled in different directions. It will be used as a personal check-in before I do any work.
Before you answer, pause and identify what actually matters most right now instead of giving multiple options.
Respond with:
• One reflection that helps me feel steady
• One question that brings clarity
• One small action I can complete today.
Keep it gentle and practical. Stop when those three things are complete.
Try it out:
After you run this, drop one word in the comments that describes how you feel now.