Get What You Want (1 Super-Effective Strategy)

By Jordan Brown - Mental Health Newsletter Writer, Poet, Social Worker, and Advocate • Issue #379 • View online

Would you love to get more of what you want out of life?

Who wouldn’t?

Not getting what you want out of life can lead to prolonged periods of frustration and anxiety.

But what if I told you that there is a simple tool that can make it at least ten times easier to get what you want?

What if I told you that other people may already be using this tool on you?

If one of your goals in life is to increase your happiness while also increasing what you get out of life, it’s time to read and learn.

The Art of Negotiation in Mental Health

I WILL get what I want. I WILL get what I want.

No, I’m not about to talk about Donald Trump or some other businessman / politician and all the magical things and/or gross things that they do to manipulate people.

I’m talking about something practical and immediately useful.

First, you have to understand that negotiation doesn’t just apply to the political arena or the business world.

You negotiate with other people every day.

Whether it’s your partner or child, coworker or boss, negotiation is a necessary tool to have in your mental health toolbelt.

What should we have for dinner?

What time will you leave work?

Could you pick up some food on your way back?

Could you take the lead on this project?

I could go on and on, but long story short is this: if you’re not negotiating with other people, you’re letting them dictate their own will and outcomes on your life.

When that happens, you are most likely not going to get what you want.

That’s where this crucial skill comes in.

The Accusation Audit

I came across the name of this skill while reading the book, Never Split the Difference, by Chris Voss.

Voss spent decades in the FBI, and his impressive resume includes being the top international hostage negotiator for the United States.

He now advises all kinds of individuals, businesses, and government entities on how they can get more of what they want.

Before you throw up your hands and exclaim, “How can this ever help me!?” I need you to know that the big epiphany this FBI guy had is that the FBI was doing it all wrong.

Negotiation is all about empathy, and the Accusation Audit is one of the most empathetic actions you can take.

Here’s how The Accusation Audit works:

The next time you are negotiating with someone, I want you to try this.

First things first, always have your goal in mind.

This is not part of an accusation audit, per se, but it’s a good rule of thumb any time you want something.

In other words, KNOW what you want. The more specific you can be the better.

If you don’t know what you want, how will you know when you get it?

Then, follow these steps!

1. Make a list of all of the assumptions you think the other person is making about you. These could be things like, “They probably think I’m cheating them” or “She probably thinks I lied about such and such.” Include as many as you can think of.

2. Name those assumptions / accusations in your conversation with the other person. Now, you might be wondering, “Why on earth would I do that? Why would I give someone else this ammunition to use against me? It comes down to empathy. You are putting yourself in their shoes. And what happens when you do that is that you build trust. You establish rapport. More importantly, you make it safe to talk about something that the other side is already thinking. If you’re serious about accomplishing your goals, you need to do this.

3. Give the other person a chance to respond. Watch what they do with their body. Take it step by step. What’s most likely to happen is that the other person will see how vulnerable you’ve made yourself and reassure you that you’re not as bad as you say you are. It follows a simple natural tendency for humans to give back what they just received. If you send out empathy and vulnerability, you almost always get it in return.

4. Move forward in the conversation. At this point, you will have established trust and demonstrated that you are someone who is self-aware and reasonable. Keep your goal in mind and continue to advocate for what you want.

In Conclusion - Getting What You Want is Easier Than You Think

If you’re clear about what you want, and if you’re willing to try a new skill to get it, the accusation audit is for you.

It can feel awkward to try at first but believe me, it works.

When I name the fears, assumptions, and accusations that other people are already thinking, I open up the conversation and expand the possibilities. And doing that always ends up working to my benefit.

So the next time you’re struggling to get what you want, remember these two words:

Accusation. Audit.

They sound scary, but they’re empathy power tools–and when used frequently, you increase the chance that you will get what you want out of life.

They were good enough for the FBI to negotiate with terrorists, which is good enough for me.

So whether your negotiation is about the price of a cinnamon roll or how to move forward with your ambitious life goals, the accusation audit is a must-have for communicating with the people who are standing in your way.

Well, how about that? The FBI leading the way on empathy? I never would have guessed, but the book I shared above contains tactic after tactic grounded in feelings and empathy. Try this out soon, and let me know how it goes.

Have a good day and a great week. You’re one skill away from changing your life.

Jordan

P.S. I spend hours every week trying to make these newsletters as helpful as possible. If this helped you, will you forward this email to a friend or family member who could use this info? I’d really appreciate it. Or even just share it on social media. Everything helps.

Newsletters You May Have Missed

How Quantity vs Quality Applies to Mental Health

newsletter.thementalhealthupdate.com • Share

Why Families Cause Stress (3 Gigantic Reasons)

newsletter.thementalhealthupdate.com • Share

Improve Your Mood With 1 Simple Journaling Habit

newsletter.thementalhealthupdate.com • Share

Did you enjoy this issue?

By Jordan Brown - Mental Health Newsletter Writer, Poet, Social Worker, and Advocate

The Mental Health Update Mental Health Newsletter provides you with authentic mental health articles that make mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and OCD meaningful AND accessible.

This is different from typical mental health newsletters and articles about mental health challenges.

It's not just an Anxiety Email Newsletter or a Depression Email Newsletter - It's two weekly articles packed with timeless mental health wisdom and inspiration to start your day in a thoughtful, uplifting way.

I was tired of other "mental health care" newsletters blasting out generic lists of links and depression articles.

And I was especially tired of them not focusing on the everyday reality of mental health issues.

So I decided to come up with something I wanted to read.

This health newsletter is like a caring friend that just wants you to feel better.

Mental health awareness articles don't need to be all doom and gloom and filled with jargon.

With The Mental Health Update, you'll get practical mental health information, tips, and new ways to view the world. Especially now, with people reeling from the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic, we need trusted voices telling it like it is.

We discuss topics like anxiety, depression, OCD, the mental health to mental illness spectrum, social and communication skills, and much, much more.

This is what a few subscribers had to say about The Mental Health Update:

"If you haven't yet subscribed to Jordan's mental health newsletter, you absolutely should. It's chock full of good stuff to read and will help make your day better. Not unlike a daily vitamin for your mental health and soul..." - JR

"Encouragement from someone who has “been there” when it comes to mental health struggles. Comes in the form of stories and simple, actionable tips for reframing and working with - and through - your issues. One of the few newsletters that has survived my ruthless inbox decluttering sprees. Highly recommended!" - Kelila

"Jordan's mental health update is a welcomed email in my inbox. It often provides me with a chance to break from the mundane tasks of working in an office and take a moment for myself to hear his thoughtful and well put together thoughts on many aspects of mental health. As someone who works in the psychology field it's often a nice reminder and way of grounding myself to all the great work that's going on and the journey we all must take in supporting mental health. Thank you Jordan!" - Rob

I take my no-spam policy very seriously. I consider it a mental health obligation to not abuse your trust or raise your anxiety.

Newsletter articles sent on Tuesday and Thursday.

Tweet

Get What You Want (1 Super-Effective Strategy)

This is what a few subscribers had to say about The Mental Health Update:

Older messages

Why We Fear Mental Health Hospital Stays

How I'm Currently Trying to Cope (With Grief, Change, and More)

The Unusual Secret to Stop Worrying

Lonely? Try the 2-Root Approach Today

Heart Surgery Changed My Mental Health Understanding

You Might Also Like

A Man's Hotel Is His Castle

Lost my seat to… what now?

"2020 A Year to Forget" by Nancy Mercado

And The #1 Hair Color Trend Of 2025 Will Be...

5 Ways You Can Lose Your Social Security Benefits

The Weekly Wrap #192

New subscriber discount ends tonight!

Weekend: Fashion-Forward…Puffer Boots? 👀

Your Week Ahead Reading 12/23 to 12/30 2024

RI#255 - Visualize your goals/ Privacy respecting tools/ 6 myths about hangovers