Huh!
Did you know Positive Linguistics is the fastest and most fun way to create real change in your daily life, and this little three-letter word might be one of the most powerful tools at your disposal?
I’m not talking about just any “huh,” the "Neutral Huh™” is a game changer and a foundational thread throughout my work. It is a powerful means to reduce judgment of ourselves and others, enhance our innate curiosity and create stronger bonds in relationship. It also releases the natural feel-good chemicals in our brains that create feelings of pleasure, even euphoria. Because there are a lot of “huh’s” in the English language at our disposal, it is critical to understand how important tone of voice is…you can watch this short video below from a recent workshop in Aspen to see what I mean.
“Huh!" Did you know Positive Linguistics is the fastest and most fun way to create real change in your daily life, and this little three-letter word might be one of the most powerful tools at your disposal?
The Science
Expounding on the neuroscience, curiosity and the Neutral Huh™ can serve as a powerful mood enhancer. One of the reasons for this is that new information-seeking (aka curiosity) is processed in the reward center of our brains. The brain's reward center, also known as the mesocorticolimbic circuit, is a group of neural structures that control and regulate pleasure and motivation. When activated, the reward circuit helps us learn to repeat behaviors that lead to a reward, such as food, sex, or social interactions. When we stimulate the reward center it releases dopamine in the reward circuit, which travels to other parts of the brain, including the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex. Dopamine binds to dopamine receptors on the surface of receiving cells, which creates a feeling of pleasure. The feeling of pleasure itself comes from natural opioids in the brain that produce a feeling of euphoria or a “high." Dopamine and opioids work together. So, simply put, practicing the Neutral Huh to foster curiosity feels really good!
I so enjoyed the first Heyday workshop I attended at True Nature - "You Are What You Think and Say!" Julie was able to condense an abundance of information in such an accessible way that it appealed to a wide and diverse audience. The material was so interesting and really resonated with me. I will be processing it for some time, and I am committed to putting what I learned into practice in order to improve my life and my relationships - especially the "neutral huh!" I am excited to participate in more workshops with Julie!
— Vicki
Love and Money
From a spiritual and relational standpoint, the Neutral Huh can help us stay out of judgment, fostering more compassion and better relationships with ourselves and the people in our personal and professional lives. We are better able to navigate our lives from a place of love rather than fear. In doing so, we are more likely to cultivate a Growth Mindset rather than a Fixed Mindset, setting ourselves up for higher achievement, less stress, and greater mental and emotional well-being.
I’ve developed a five-step method for cultivating a Growth Mindset and the Neutral Huh™ is integral throughout.
Stay curious and release judgment of self and others.
Be emotional honest and authentic
Take radical personal responsibility
Communicate mindfully
Set hopeful expectations
Please explore my workshops to learn more, including my upcoming workshop at True Nature on July 11th
True Nature Workshop #3
Using The Neutral Huh™ to Foster Greater Emotional Eloquence and Authenticity: Taking Your Emotional Intelligence to the Next Level to Create Higher Levels of Long-term Happiness, Life Satisfaction and Success
What a gift we have been given to be incarnate on this beautiful planet in these physical, emotional bodies! Yet, research has shown that most Americans can only identify only three basic emotional experiences — happy, sad, and angry — when there are actually almost 90 nuanced emotional states!
Why is this so important? Because when we develop a deeper understanding of our emotions, we can see more clearly the role they play in shaping thoughts, mindsets, and behaviors, as well as the opportunity we have to cultivate empathy and connection in our relationships. So we need to cultivate curiosity and reduce judgment around our emotional experiences using everyone’s favorite technique, “The Neutral Huh!”
Workshop #3
True Nature Healing Arts
