I jokingly call it “Team Don” and this older self, hopefully wiser and less ego driven, with lower defenses is the spokesperson.
Sometimes, 5 year old Donny comes out and I have to bench him.
I want the wisest and highest part of me to represent Team Don.
Imagine, mid- conversation, if someone said to you, “Hang on a second. I can feel myself getting defensive and my ego is getting in the way. I need a moment to check my ego at the door and lower my walls. I think our conversation will go better if I do that.”
My guess is that most people would see that as odd, perhaps, yet very helpful.
Try it and let me know how it affected the conversation.