Shifting to Neutral

I’ve just completed Trevor Moawad’s last book, Getting to Neutral. He has such an eloquent way of telling the readers to stop thinking positively and focus more on being neutral.

I’ve listened to the audiobook twice and I must admit, the first time around I found it a really hard concept to understand. We have been taught our whole lives to think positively. Are you going through a health issue? Think positive. Are you changing careers? Focus on the positive. Are you going through relationship issues? Lean on the positive relationships.

Trevor has deconstructed the notion of positivity as the athletes he was coaching were tired of hearing the term, think positive. When you through an interception in the last 30 seconds in the end zone of the Super Bowl, I’m pretty sure nobody wants to find the positive in that situation. So what can be done? How does one overcome that disappointment and prepare for the next season?

For starters, get to neutral.

Observe and acknowledge that this situation may not be the desired outcome. Sit in a space that allows you to not judge yourself, but to look more with discernment and love towards yourself.

When you’re in a part of your life where you are in waiting mode, it can be easy to get caught up with the anxiety. I live that as I’m moving to different places and have a home base back in Ottawa. I work on this quite a bit in being neutral and understanding that the tasks in front of me will help propel me to where I want to be. To me, being neutral means:

• Surround yourself with other neutral people and those that understand your action plan.

• View our bodies as neutral. We are neither good or bad. Our weight, height, appearance. * for me personally, I feel this is a healthy space, but realize this is a sensitive topic.

• Don’t jump to hope or positivity in a situation that may be bringing us down. We settle in with thinking neutral and observe and acknowledge the situation we are in.

• Create an action plan. This plan keeps us grounded.

I am new to this concept and I have much to learn. I can say in the short period of time I have been trying to be more neutral, I’ve been keenly aware of when I’m not. If you find yourself in a space in life where you need to lean on a direction, I would recommend getting to neutral.

First, read book.