Grid Society philosophy and terms explained: How to recognise and change your emotional state in real time
Updated: 4 days ago
Something we hear all the time at Grid Society:
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Most people struggle with feelings they cannot clearly name.
They use words like “off”, “stressed” or “overthinking”, but these descriptions do not always explain what they are actually experiencing. Without identifying the specific thoughts, emotions or behavioural patterns involved, it becomes harder to recognise what needs to change and decide what to do next.
At Grid Society, your emotions have an address
At Grid Society, we encourage people to recognise, name and locate their emotions using the personal development tools and language we have created.
Our Universal Grid™ introduces the idea that your emotions have an address. Rather than experiencing your thoughts and feelings as something you cannot make sense of, you can begin to identify where you are emotionally and what that location represents.
This approach draws on the psychological concept of externalisation, which we explore in our counselling workshops. Externalisation encourages people to separate themselves from their thoughts and experiences rather than allowing those experiences to define their identity.
For example, instead of saying, “I am overwhelmed,” you might recognise that you are currently experiencing Grey Grid Thinking. You can identify the thoughts, emotions and behavioural patterns associated with that location without treating them as a permanent part of who you are.
The important distinction is that where you are emotionally is not necessarily where you have to remain. Once you recognise your location on the Universal Grid™, you can begin considering the choices and Gridmoves that could take you somewhere different.
When you give your emotions an address, you move from being consumed by the experience to recognising where you are and what you can do next.
The Grid Society Lexicon™
A shared language for recognising emotional states
The following terms have been created exclusively for the Grid Society philosophy. Together, they form a shared language used throughout our Pattern Recognition Workbooks, online workshops, counselling workshops and staff CPD training days.
⟶ Grid Term 1: The Grey Grid™
⟶ Grid Term 2: The Green Grid™
⟶ Grid Term 3: The Orange Grid™
⟶ Grid Term 4: The Universal Grid™
⟶ Grid Term 5: Grey Voices™
⟶ Grid Term 6: The Grey Grid Roundabout™
⟶ Grid Term 7: Orange Space™
⟶ Grid Term 8: Make Gridmoves™
⟶ Grid Term 9: Gridchanger™
⟶Grid Term 10: THIS IS GRIDLIFE™
© Grid Society™. Created by Lee and Dr N. Michelle. All rights reserved. Grid Society™ concepts, frameworks, terminology, and original content are protected intellectual property.
Change your emotional state
↓ Grid Term 1.
The Grey Grid™
The emotional state where your mind feels overwhelmed, distressed, heavy or stagnant. Grey Grid Thinking can create a mental fog that makes it difficult to think clearly, recognise behavioural patterns or identify a way forward.
The Phrase:
“I think I’m standing on the Grey Grid™ right now.”
The Goal:
To recognise your emotional state, identify the patterns keeping you there and find your exit.
↓ Grid Term 2.
The Green Grid™
The Green Grid™ is where you stop going around in circles and start doing something about your situation. Green Grid Thinking is about making decisions, working through challenges and taking practical steps towards the life you want to create. It is where you turn your awareness into action, develop strategies and start making Gridmoves that count.
The Phrase:
“I am on the Green Grid™ and making Gridmoves towards my future.”
The Goal:
To turn self-awareness into intentional action, make meaningful Gridmoves and move closer to your Orange Grid™ (your defined future vision).
↓ Grid Term 3.
The Orange Grid™
The Orange Grid™ is the space you imagine when you think about your best self and the life you want to create. Orange Grid Thinking is about recognising what is possible for you and beginning to experience the future you once envisioned. It is a place where you feel fulfilled, excited, joyful, calm and assured. You are doing things that feel like you, living in your potential and moving in the direction you visualised. You feel alive, confident and, most importantly, like you belong in your own life.
The Phrase:
"I feel like I am on the Orange Grid™ today."
The Goal:
To create, experience and enjoy the life you once envisioned, while continuing to develop your Orange Grid™.
↓ Grid Term 4.
The Universal Grid™
The Universal Grid™ is a metaphorical world created by Grid Society to help you understand where you are emotionally, mentally and in life, and where you want to go next.
Built around three distinct states of mind, Grey Grid Thinking, Green Grid Thinking and Orange Grid Thinking, it gives you a visual way to recognise your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and the choices you make every day.
Think of it as a map of your inner world. Sometimes you are standing on the Grey Grid™, caught in familiar patterns or struggling to see a way forward. Other times, you are on the Green Grid™, working through challenges, making decisions and taking meaningful Gridmoves. Then there is the Orange Grid™, where you begin creating, experiencing and enjoying the life you once imagined.
The Universal Grid™ encourages you to recognise that your current emotional location does not have to become your permanent destination. You can learn to navigate your experiences, identify your next steps and make intentional choices that move you towards your defined future vision.
An important distinction: The Universal Grid™ is not about controlling everything that happens around you. It is about recognising what is within your influence and deciding how you want to respond, act and move forward.
Goal 01: To recognise your current position on the Universal Grid™ and understand the thoughts, emotions and behaviours associated with it.
Goal 02: To develop your Orange Grid™ vision and learn to make intentional Gridmoves towards the life you want to create.
↓ Grid Term 5.
Grey Voices™
In everyday language, this is known as negative self-talk or the inner critic.
On the Universal Grid™, we call it the Grey Voice™.
Your Grey Voice™ is the negative internal dialogue that uses fear, doubt, comparison and self-judgement to question your abilities, undermine your confidence and convince you that you are not good enough.
It can remind you of past mistakes, exaggerate your shortcomings and make you question your potential, even when there is evidence of your progress.
The Phrase:
"That is just my Grey Voice talking."
The Goal:
To recognise your Grey Voice™, challenge what it tells you and strip it of its authority.
↓ Grid Term 6.
The Grey Grid Roundabout™
In everyday language, this is known as overthinking, rumination or emotional spiralling.
On the Grey Grid™, we call it the Grey Grid Roundabout™.
It is when you find yourself repeatedly revisiting the same worries, fears, conversations or situations. You overthink, second-guess yourself, relive things you cannot change and struggle to find a way forward. The roundabout creates the illusion of movement, even though you keep arriving back at the same place.
The Phrase:
"I am stuck on the Grey Grid Roundabout."
The Goal:
To recognise when you are caught in a repetitive mental or emotional cycle, interrupt the spiral and begin finding your exit.
↓ Grid Term 7.
Orange Space™
In everyday language, this is your “workspace” or “ritual setup.”
Within Grid Society™, it is the intentional environment and mental rhythm you activate to perform inner work, reflection, and visioning. It is built on the principle of Mindset Over Environment.
There are 2 primary forms of Orange Space:
A Be Still Orange Space™
A grounded physical sanctuary, such as a specific chair, desk, or room, that anchors your rhythm through familiarity and stillness.
A Floating Orange Space™
A portable rhythm or “kit”, such as a bag, notebook, or tools, that allows you to activate your inner work mindset anywhere.
Social Media - Instagram
Our followers often document and share their Orange Space setups with us. These moments act as a visual signal of commitment to their inner work journey.
The Phrase:
"I need to get into my Orange Space.”
↓ Grid Term 8.
MAKE GRIDMOVES™
The Simple Version
Small, consistent, strategic, and pre-defined steps. These are the practical actions you take every day to turn your thinking into real progress.
While normal moves are often reactive, impulsive, or driven by pressure and urgency, GRIDMOVES™ are intentional actions designed to reposition your thinking, your emotions, and the direction of your life.
The Phrase:
"I need to make good GRIDMOVES™ today.”
The Goal:
To replace instant emotional reactions with pre-defined steps that ensure you are actually moving forward, not just staying busy.
↓ Grid Term 9.
GRIDCHANGER™
The Simple Version
The person who refuses to stay stuck. This has nothing to do with being a “boss,” a “diva,” or a social media “one-percenter.” It is not about fame or status. A Gridchanger™ is anyone who chooses to push past their own boundaries and move forward on their own terms.
Being a Gridchanger™ does not mean you have reached a final destination. It means you had the courage to start and keep moving. Progress is measured by your own growth, not public opinion.
The Phrase:
"I am a Gridchanger™".
The Goal:
To take ownership of your ability to reposition your life to any coordinate you choose, regardless of external labels or challenges.
↓ Grid Term 10.
THISISGRIDLIFE
This is the term we use for those moments when things start to make sense and you are no longer being dictated to by your external environment or external problems. It is when a problem shows up and instead of reacting you work through it properly using the tools.
It is when you are sitting down, thinking clearly, writing things out, and navigating your way through life step by step. It is a lifestyle built on recognising your patterns, staying with the process, and seeing your growth as it happens in real time.
The Phrase:
"THISISGRIDLIFE" is what you say to yourself in those moments when you realise you’ve changed course for the better.
The Goal:
It is the breakthrough when you realise you are winning. Sometimes the win is quiet. Other times, it is obvious. Either way, you know you are winning.
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© Grid Society™ 2025. All Grid frameworks, terms, workshop names, images and designs are original intellectual property of Grid Society™.
Reuse, adaptation or reproduction without written consent is strictly prohibited. Sharing this post on social media with credit to Grid Society™ is welcomed and appreciated.
Grid Society™ created the concept that introduces the Grey Grid, Green Grid and Orange Grid as a structured way to understand thinking.
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