Isn’t It Interesting…
Why Is This Simple Statement So Powerful?
Written by: Lisa A. Barrett, M.S., LPC, ATR, Author, Speaker, Coach, Artist
Blog #3: August 21, 2026
I love using the simple statement, “Isn’t it interesting…” for many reasons.
It can be applied to almost any situation in your life. Simply add whatever you are experiencing after it. For
example:
“Isn’t it interesting that I didn’t pass my test?”
“Isn’t it interesting that this person’s comment upset me so much?”
Why can this simple shift in language be so powerful?
When we are emotionally activated, it can be difficult to separate what actually happened from the
thoughts, feelings, assumptions, and interpretations we attach to the experience.
The phrase “Isn’t it interesting…” invites us to become curious about what happened rather than
immediately judging it.That small shift can create space between the experience and our reaction to it.
What Happens When We Shift Toward Curiosity?
The prefrontal cortex plays an important role in higher-level thinking, including working memory,
evaluating information, placing experiences into context, decision-making, and updating our understanding
when we receive new information.
When we become less emotionally reactive and more curious and reflective, we give ourselves a greater
opportunity to engage these higher-level thinking processes.
When we state out loud, “Isn’t it interesting that this happened,” we are now an observer and
observation creates room for another question:
“What can I learn from this?”
From Emotional Reactivity to the Neutral Zone®
This is where the statement becomes particularly powerful.
Rather than remaining caught in an emotional reaction, “Isn’t it interesting…” can help us create a
moment of psychological distance from the situation.
1This space is what I coined as the Neutral Zone®—the place where we can pause, observe, and become
curious rather than automatically react.
From this space, we have a greater opportunity to access what I have coined Calm Clarity®—a state in
which we can more effectively consider possibilities, make decisions, problem-solve, and choose how we
want to respond.
The situation itself may not have changed, but our relationship to the situation has.
Try It Yourself
The next time something does not go as planned, you receive disappointing news, someone says
something that triggers you, or you notice yourself becoming emotionally reactive, try saying:
You are not denying the emotion or pretending the situation does not matter. You are simply creating
enough space to look at it differently.
One small shift in language can create a surprisingly powerful shift in perspective.
We shift our thinking, we shift our life.
I am available for coaching and speaking engagements focused on empowerment, Calm Clarity®,
emotional regulation, communication, and personal and professional growth.
https://www.touchedbyart.net/
https://www.youtube.com/@CalmClarity-LisaBarrett
References:
Powers, J. P., & LaBar, K. S. (2019). Regulating emotion through distancing: A taxonomy, neurocognitive
model, and supporting meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 96, 155–173. https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.04.023
Kross, E., & Ayduk, O. (2011). Making meaning out of negative experiences by self-distancing. Current
Directions in Psychological Science, 20(3), 187–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721411408883
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