In this brief motivational monologue, the speaker introduces the concept of "shifting to neutral," describing it as moving into a space of acceptance (the "yes" space) before deciding how to respond effectively (the "and" space). Using a personal story about an unexpected change to a child’s soccer game that doubled the travel distance, the speaker illustrates how frustration can be acknowledged, vented, and then transformed into problem‑solving. A reminder from a mindfulness app prompts the shift, and the speaker outlines a simple mental process: recognize the revved‑up emotional state, pause, let go of judgment, and then plan constructive action. The talk ends with an invitation for listeners to notice when they need to shift into neutral and to apply the technique in their own day.
Chapters
Good morning, everyone. Here is your Moment of Yes for Wednesday, January 27th. So, shifting to neutral, the idea of shifting to neutral, neutral being sort of the space of acceptance. It's the yes space. In the yes space, we're in acceptance, and then we shift into the and space, which is how are we going to, you know, respond to this? How are we going to be effective? All right, so this idea of shifting to neutral when we get news. Is kind of the acceptance of it with as little judgment as possible. And so I say that because Monday, um, one of Shepherd's soccer games got changed from a 2-hour drive one way on Sunday to a 4-hour drive one way for one game. Yeah. And, um, and, and sort of the hoops that I'm gonna have to jump through— Hollister's out of town and the dog and all this stuff. And so I was really, really peeved. Like really annoyed, really frustrated, all the different elements to it. And I'm just kind of stewing in my stew and getting hot, getting bothered. And I got a little update on my phone, my Limitless Minds app, and it said, do you need to shift to neutral? It was just kind of a random reminder. And I was like, boom, yes, perfect. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for helping me shift into neutral, right? Because again, the longer you stew with the negativity, it's just that, it's that ineffective space. So the shifting to neutral, right? It's like, okay, yeah, do you need to shift to neutral? It's like, yes. Okay, what's the situation? Here's the situation. Do you like it? No. Does it matter? Not really, right? The situation is the situation. Now, how can I shift, right? How can I let go of some of that judgment? Right? Now, how can I shift into, okay, here's the situation, how do I need to respond to it? Right? And again, that is the neutral, that is the yes and, that is allowing ourselves to be effective. Again, giving yourself permission. And again, I told Hollister and Shepherd, I'm like, I need to vent right now. I'm fine. I'm frustrated. Let me vent. Here's why I'm frustrated. I'm going to move on. This is my pity lap. But at one event, you know, and so here's why, and then sort of move into problem-solving mode. And as a result of that, like, found some, some, you know, cool solutions that, you know, would make, make the best out of it, out of the fact that we have to drive 4 hours each way. Anyway, that shifting to neutral, right? A, I loved the reminder, and B, it's like, okay, when we notice ourselves revved up, right, when we notice our, our engine revved up, That's our little reminder. Boom! Can we shift into neutral? From neutral, it's where, okay, you can let the heat go. You can let the positive, the negative, you can just kind of let that go, sit in that neutrality, and then be effective about how you want to shift into action, into gear. Yeah. Notice that today. How do you need to shift into neutral? Where do you need to shift into neutral? And then let's do it. That's your moment of yes for today, everybody. Have an awesome day.
