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The Art of Constant Negotiation

Self awareness is your greatest weapon.

Embracing Discomfort.
2 min readMar 14, 2024
Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash

Welcome to the grand bazaar that is life, where every word, every decision, and every silent thought is part of an intricate dance of negotiation.

It’s a world where self-interest reigns supreme, often operating in the shadows of our subconscious. We may not like to admit it, but every one of us is a born negotiator, wheeling and dealing our way through the day, sometimes with grace, other times with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

This incessant negotiation isn’t reserved for boardrooms or marketplaces. It’s in the “please” and “thank you” exchanged at the coffee shop, the calculated likes on social media, even in the silence that speaks volumes during a heated argument. It’s a relentless pursuit of advantage, not always material but often psychological, emotional, existential.

And it’s not just human interactions.

Our very devices, those sleek screens we cling to, are in on the game. They cajole, coax, and sometimes coerce, guiding our actions with the promise of rewards – be it dopamine hits or the illusion of connection. We’re in a constant state of alert, prompted by pings that dictate our rhythms of sleep, work, and play.

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