"Yes, And..." Responding to the Genius

You are rolling your eyes, and missing the point.

There's something genius in what that person just said to you, but you're determined to know they are stupid and wrong, or that they bear you ill-intent.

Oh, the communication opportunities that opened up for me when I saw my own meaningmaking.

Oh, the curiosity I cultivated when I learned to go beyond my own knowing.

By all means, dismantle your projection systems, come into inquiry about them, define and live your own value system (Loving What Is by Byron Katie can help you do this).

Having done so, I've found that knowing there absolutely IS something genius in anything that anyone can say to me is a valuable projection to run with.

Their tone is ignorant, idiotic, mean, or mocking—is that what my attention is for? Is that what I value, what I consider genius worthy of my attention?

Huh, as I disregard what my attention is not for, I see that their words are true. I DID track mud into the house. They DID just wash the floor. Genius! Observing reality is always genius!

“Yes, thank you! You are right, I tracked mud into the house and you washed the floor yesterday. (Thank you so much for that, btw.) You are a genius observer of reality, as am I. I saw how you washed the floor yesterday, and I can do the same today. Thank you for calling my attention to this matter.”

Yes, And. It is the law of improv. It is artful relationship, on the fly. It is a response-pattern which creates interest, intrigue, collaboration, and good will.

It is PLAY.

When I say YES, I'm opted-in. When I say AND, I am the one. When I create with what they're saying via Yes, And, I am living that they are the point of my time.

It is VERY HARD to go on being shitty with someone who is being friendly or neutral. It's in fact a signal of a psyche and nervous system in total overwhelm, and therefore not my business at all.

If my "yes, and" is met with a tirade, I simply hold silence and remember exactly what is mine. I allow the tirade to flow on the floor and I don't try to clean it up. I simply stay with what I know is true about me and the situation and the moment. Their overwhelm and their response to their overwhelm cannot be about me.

Play is light. Play does not take itself seriously. Play transcends effort and pride. Efforts to play will confront me with my ideas of effort and the strength of my pride.

"I don't care how big and tough a man you are, when a toddler hands you a fake phone, you answer it."

Play is compelling. Play commands collaboration. Play is a prosperity available every here and now.

Play is a relationship technology.