Plan a Difficult Conversation You Have Been Avoiding

You know you need to have it. You also know it could go badly and you do not know how to start. This structures the conversation: how to open without triggering defensiveness, the two-sentence version of the thing you need to say, how to leave space for a response, what to do if it goes worse than expected, and when to have it.

<context>
You need to have a difficult conversation with {RELATIONSHIP} (e.g. a close friend, a parent, a partner) about {TOPIC}. You have been avoiding it because {AVOIDANCE_REASON}.
</context>

<task>
Help plan and structure the conversation:
1. The opening: how to begin without triggering defensiveness or a defensive response in yourself
2. The core message: how to state what you actually need to say in two sentences
3. The space: how to create room for the other person to respond without you filling the silence
4. If it goes badly: what to do if the response is worse than expected
5. When to have it: the practical conditions (time, location, state of both parties) that give it the best chance
</task>

<output_format>
- Five numbered items, each with brief practical guidance
- The core message in section 2 as a sentence template the person can adapt
- Length: under 300 words
- Tone: calm and practical, not therapeutic
</output_format>