The brain is the control centre of the human body and it consists of three main components.

Red Brain & Yellow Brain help us protect ourselves in survival situations, but being in them for too long is damaging for us. Green Brain is the goal, for ourselves and those around us for healthy, longterm growth and human flourishing.

We all wish we could live in Green Brain, but often events and experiences send us into Yellow or Red. We need to learn strategies that will help us get back to Green. Once in Green ourselves, we can begin to help others get to Green as well.

Empathy means looking at a situation from another person’s perspective in order to understand how they feel. When we practice empathy we begin to understand the motivations behind a person’s actions. Practicing empathy allows us to build relationships with others.

When working with children, it is especially important to consider why they acted the way they did.

Punishment makes the child feel unsafe and unloved, sending them into Yellow or Red. In these brain states they will have a much harder time learning from you.

The Stoplight Approach allows us to become aware of the brain state of the child, help them get back into Green, and then use empathy to understand their actions. Once they are in Green, we can teach them how to do better next time.

Everyone has a moral identity, whether we realize it or not. When we connect with others and practice empathy, we can intentionally decide what kind of person we want to be, and what kind of effect we want our actions to have on those around us.

It is up to you:

• What colour do you want to live in?

• What colour do you want to put those around you in?

No one is perfect. We all slip into Yellow & Red and do things we are not proud of. The important part is that we get ourselves back to Green and repair the relationship.

Take action! Make the world a better place by looking for people in Yellow & Red and help them get back into Green. Once we decide who we want to be, we can actively engage the world around us. So what are you going to do?

Our brains have the ability to learn, change, and grow.

Create Green habits. Don’t get stuck - learn from mistakes.
Celebrate even small successes.
You can change - and help others to change!

Grab your copy of The ABC’s of Stoplight booklet for a more in-depth look at Stoplight’s core philosophy! It simplifies excerpts from various larger Stoplight resources, to provide a deeper understanding of what Stoplight is, as well as how to apply and use in your own personal life!

Step #2:

You can access a number of our other resources below. Between videos, books, and brochures you’ll be equipped to with tools and a greater understanding of Stoplight’s philosophy in your day-to-day lives.