Around people I frequent this is a mental judo move. We have one word for it when we are doing it, “broccoli”, as in “Do you smell broccoli?” This ridiculous type question has a sophisticated name too. It is called a pattern interrupt. Many a parent or grandparent I have helped out when the accompanying toddler is throwing down a tantrum by asking the child some ridiculous questions in a loud Elmo voice. A ridiculous question like this is like jamming a monkey wrench into those spinning out of control mental gears. The tantrum stops and they get this look on their face. They get curious. Sometimes they shyly hide behind the parent.
A more serious question can be used effectively to cause mental shifts. I had to do it yesterday. My calendar rolls from telecom to Teams and Zoom meetings, all important, but they interrupt the flow of technical effort, meaning another night of work. It peeves me. I was focusing on a fearful state of scarcity of time and energy. Current events domestic and international were just another rock in my mental backpack. Then a Blessed cold caller picked my number and wanted to know if I would be interested in an unsecured loan, i could apply right over the phone. I told him that sounded great, I asked if he could do $30B. He asked if “my momma was sick” and hung up.
Successful shift. Power shift.