Unraveling the Eight Saboteurs Within Positive Intelligence®
Have you wondered what stopped you from being the best you?
Well, I have, and after some deep inner shadow work, I was ready to face them head-on. Around that time, I was introduced to what you now know as Positive Intelligence® or PQ®. The program has deeply influenced my path to personal growth and fulfillment. I shared last week about the Judge’s characteristics, justification lies, and the impact on you. Now I want to explore the eight secondary Saboteurs that hinder our growth and development and that we all have to some degree.
Positive Intelligence®, developed by Shirzad Chamine, a prominent positive psychology researcher and Stanford lecturer, equips us with tools to identify and overcome self-sabotaging tendencies, ultimately leading to greater success and happiness.
We often struggle with internal conflicts, self-doubt, and negative emotions in this fast-paced world. The eight Saboteurs we’ll explore today can operate subconsciously, guiding our actions and reactions. Recognizing and understanding them is the first step toward confidence, peak performance, and lasting peace of mind. Only with awareness can change occur.
Let’s meet these eight Saboteurs and see which ones you can identify with before you take the test:
The Stickler: Perfectionism is the root of the Stickler’s power. It constantly demands high standards, leaving no room for mistakes or experimentation, which leaves you constantly disappointed and frustrated. It may leave you with suppressed anger, anxiety, and difficulty dealing with change.
The Pleaser: Afraid of rejection and seeking external validation, the Pleaser will go to great lengths to please others, often at the expense of their own needs and desires. It can cause resentment when others don’t notice what you’ve done for them.
The Hyper-Achiever: While ambition can be a positive trait, the Hyper-Achiever pushes you relentlessly, causing stress and burnout as you chase never-ending goals. It is competitive and goal-oriented, with feelings and emotions pushed aside. There is fleeting peace of mind and happiness.
The Victim: When faced with challenges, the Victim falls into a helpless state, feeling powerless and overwhelmed. It uses negativity to garner attention and always has problems that no one understands. Terrible things always happen to you—poor me.
The Hyper-Vigilant: Constantly looking for potential dangers, the Hyper-Vigilant creates anxiety and makes you prone to overreacting. It is suspicious of other people’s motives and always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The Restless: Always seeking the next exciting thing prevents us from thoroughly enjoying the present and leads to a lack of contentment. It is easily distracted and can get too scattered (many with ADHA have this Saboteur). It is impatient and has FOMO and Shiney Ball Syndrome.
The Avoider: Fearful of facing difficult emotions or situations, the Avoider encourages you to escape or distract yourself rather than confronting challenges head-on. It avoids conflict to spare others’ feelings and be the peacemaker by saying yes to things it doesn’t want and giving them their way.
The Hyper-Rational: Overly relying on logic and dismissing emotions, the Hyper-Rational is disconnected from their feelings and intuition. It feels that needs and emotions distract from projects, where intense focus on the rational mind and knowledge are essential. It can be seen as cold, distant, and intellectually arrogant.
(To determine your top two, take the Discover Your Saboteursassessment. I was surprised that four of mine were closely rated.)
We may identify with several of these Saboteurs to varying degrees. By shedding light on these inner adversaries, we open ourselves to a world of self-awareness and personal transformation. But how do we harness the power of Positive Intelligence® and free ourselves from these sabotaging influences? The following seven practices are things you can do now to help.
Cultivate Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and understanding. Embrace your imperfections and acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes.
Challenge Negative Thoughts: Confront your inner critic and replace negative self-talk with empowering and affirming thoughts.
Practice Gratitude: Cultivate gratitude by acknowledging and appreciating the positives in your life, no matter how small.
Embrace Emotional Awareness: Practice mindfulness to connect with your emotions and understand their underlying causes.
Set Realistic Goals: Shift your focus from perfectionism to progress. Set achievable and meaningful goals that allow for growth and learning.
Develop Empathy: Extend empathy towards yourself and others, understanding that everyone faces their own battles and insecurities.
Embrace Change: View uncertainty and change as opportunities for growth rather than threats.
But there is an easier way to have a lasting transformation where your brain’s neural pathways are re-wired, and the Saboteur that sits on your shoulder or is a voice inside your head is quieted. I shared the program in an earlier email, but if you missed it, here it is again:
The PQ® Program
6-week program
1-hour weekly video
15-minutes/day practice on the app
Downloadable PDF of the book Positive Intelligence®; read eight chapters
Weekly Community Pod meeting
You can get a few friends, family members, or colleagues together and receive a discount for the program. It’s guaranteed results, and if you do the work, attend the Pod meetings, watch the videos, and read the book, and you aren’t satisfied, you’ll receive a 100% refund, guaranteed.
Remember, every day is an opportunity to grow and thrive, and with PQ®, you’ll find the strength and wisdom to make the most of each precious moment with complete confidence and peace of mind where you have the capacity to respond to all of life’s challenges with a positive mindset.
Until next time, be well and be the best you can be!
