Positive Triggers: Shifting from Yellow to Green

A couple of weeks ago, I was working in a coffee shop and took a picture of my blank blog editor screen. I posted it with a question: “Is this an opportunity or a threat.”

I meant it as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the glass-half-empty-or-full idiom.

My point was that a blank page could be anything depending on your outlook. Most of the time, I see a blank page as an opportunity. I love writing and often sit down inspired and ready to write.

But not today.

This morning I found myself staring at this screen not entirely happy with the way it was staring blankly back at me. (Get it, blankly?)

If you’ve read any of my recent blogs, you’ll recognize these as likely signs that I was “in the yellow.”

What’s going on?

What is it about this morning that has me unsure, and struggling to get started with my writing. There’s a lot going on.

To start, the weight of my outside obligations and expectations are starting to feel very heavy. I think we all go through these moments where things feel easier than others to bear and right now, it’s a bit tough.

As a result, my mind keeps shifting from what I want to focus on (writing) to several other items on my to-do list. This blog feels less important – or at least less pressing – than other things.

I’m sure many people reading this can relate. Life throws all kinds of things at us that can make it hard to focus, or stay present in the task we’re doing right now.

So what do we do about it?

Getting back in the green

I’ve coached plenty of people through this, and luckily have a pretty good understanding of my own green state when it comes to writing.

(It’s worth noting here that our “green state” can be a bit different depending on the task or role we’re occupying at any given time, but that’s for another blog – or even a book.)

Positive triggers

Last week I talked about process vs outcome triggers in terms of taking you out out of the green and into the yellow or red. The word “trigger” is often used negatively like I did last week, but I’d like to reclaim that somewhat.

Most of the time, we think of words like routines, rituals and processes as catalysts that get us into the right mindset. But those routines, rituals and processes contain the positive triggers that help us.

Understanding your positive triggers is arguably more important than understanding your negative ones.

While the details will vary, here are some of the basic steps to shift from the yellow to the green.

Set the stage

I’m going to speak in terms of writing here, but setting the stage is easily applicable to work, training or any other activity where you need to give yourself a nudge into the green.

Our environment has a huge impact on our mindset:

• Cleaning your desk before an important meeting can help you feel ready and in control.
• Preparing / laying out your equipment or tools ahead of work or training will increase your sense of purpose.
• Listening to music can help shift your mood (and heart rate).

For my part, I like things to be quiet when I’m writing. The TV was already off, but I also moved the phone into the other room so I wouldn’t hear it buzz with notifications.

From maybe to yes

I also brought my laptop into a room where I felt like working today. I realize this isn’t directly applicable to everyone but I asked myself the question, “where do I feel like writing today?” And chose a spot.

This simple question also shifted the mindset from thoughts of “Should I write?” to very simply establishing that “I feel like writing today.” I didn’t ask if I wanted to write, I asked where I wanted to do it. I took away my own choice.

I sat down at my dining room table, away from my office and the reminders of everything else that’s on my plate.

The stage was set.

Shift your perception

When stuck in the yellow, it takes some concerted effort to shift out of it. I took the first step by claiming my space for working, but I also needed to take a look internally.

This is also where knowing your positive triggers comes in.

I know that I’m better at thinking creatively while on my feet rather than sitting down. I also know that I think better when my hands are occupied. I’m often fiddling with Lego or fidgeting in some way while on calls.

After deciding that I was indeed going to write, I had to come up with ideas. So I did what most people would call procrastinating. I wandered around my house. I fiddled with scraps of paper. I did some stretches. I vacuumed the living room carpet.

I absolutely did not sit and stare at this blank screen.

I had my body moving while I internally pieced together the idea of discussing the basic steps of shifting from yellow to green, using myself as an example. And then I sat down.

Just go!

One of my favorite expressions – which applies to any creative process – is that first you have to make it exist. Then you can worry about making it good.

Instead of talking myself out of the idea of writing about not knowing what to write about, I just went with it. After a few paragraphs, I was back, fully in the green, happily writing away.

What are your positive triggers?

Elite athletes are well aware of the power of routines and rituals, the processes that trigger their best mindset and performance.

For those chasing that level of performance in sport, or work, or life, it’s important to consider the things that help get you into the green.

In the end, those are the elements that you want to control, and use purposefully, to get you to (or back to) your best self.