SELF 187 words
Decide Whether to End a Long-Term Friendship
The friendship has years behind it but now feels one-sided, draining, or stuck in a version of you that has moved on. This works through the decision before you do anything irreversible: what need it still meets, whether it can change, and whether to step back or speak up. Good for anyone quietly drifting from someone they used to be close to.
<context>
You are questioning a friendship with {FRIENDSHIP_SITUATION} that has lasted [duration]. The friendship currently feels [describe: draining / one-sided / stuck in a dynamic from a previous life stage / fine from the outside but not meeting any real need]. You have [tried to address it / not raised it / pulled back quietly].
</context>
<task>
**Think through this decision carefully before acting:**
1. Distinguish between a friendship that has run its course and one that needs renegotiating
2. Assess whether the issue is the person or the pattern: some patterns can change, people rarely do fundamentally
3. Consider what you would lose if this friendship ended, and whether those things are actually provided by this person
4. Apply a clarity question: if this person were new in your life today, would you seek out this friendship?
5. Identify the three options (end it / change it / accept it) and what each would require
</task>
<output_format>
- Run its course vs needs renegotiating (your situation assessed)
- Person vs pattern distinction (paragraph)
- What you would lose (honest list)
- Clarity question result (your honest answer)
- Three options with what each requires (brief bullets)
</output_format> ⚠ human-in-the-loop: you are responsible for the results of using this prompt, not us.