Transforming My Mindset from Self-Sabotage to Wisdom

Two years ago, if someone had told me I’d be able to “let go” of an interaction that didn’t go as planned or stop obsessing over all the things that could go wrong, I’d call BS. After all, I had been a gold medalist in the sport of Professional Pitfall Planning. I made sure I had a response for every possible scenario. It made me feel in control and prepared for anything, which is an outright lie.

The PQ Journey

With the encouragement of fellow executive coaches, I embarked on the PQ Program. I was intrigued by the evidence-based framework and PQ’s founder, distinguished executive coach, lecturer, author, and former CEO, Shirzad Chamine. With that, I delved into this mental fitness journey that integrated principles from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and positive psychology. The PQ program helped me identify my negative thought patterns (Saboteurs) and foster the development of positive thought patterns (Sage). By recognizing and shifting from Saboteur to Sage responses, I was able to retrain my brain to react more positively.

Key Insights

• Letting Go of Perfection: I came to understand that it’s not possible to be ready for every worst-case scenario. That was a painful lesson to learn.
• Mental Bandwidth: My mental bandwidth was limited, and I could start letting go of the things that really didn’t matter. The outcome was more space for being present during meetings, having greater balance in and outside of work, and time for introspection.
• Embracing Neuroplasticity: Although old habits die hard, I realized it’s possible to leverage neuroplasticity to reorganize the brain by forming new neural connections. I decreased how much I judged myself and began to give myself grace (which is helpful advice I gave to others, yet rarely took myself).
• Enhanced Clarity: Despite four years of dedicated meditation, I discovered a new level of clarity that had eluded me. I was able to cut down on some of the noise in my head. This revelation was a testament to the transformative power of the PQ Program.
• Uncovering Hidden Energy: I uncovered energy that I didn’t realize was being expended in self-sabotage. By not wasting so much time getting in my way, I had additional opportunities to focus on celebrating what was working and looking ahead more positively.

PQ Program

• 🧠 Saboteur Assessment: Identify and decrease negative thoughts (Saboteurs) while increasing positive thoughts (Sage).
• 📱 PQ App: Accessible on Apple, Android, and desktop, featuring weekly videos and daily 15-minute exercises.
• 🏋️ PQ Gym: Guided sessions to practice and log PQ reps, essential for mental fitness.
• 👥 Community: An internal social network to connect and grow.
• 🎓 Modules: Essential lessons for program completion.
• 🤝 Pod: Weekly small group discussions for support and accountability.

Learn More

By participating in the PQ Program, you can cultivate powerful habits for a positive mind and strengthen three critical mental muscles. This shift from Saboteurs to Sage can have lifelong applications. If you’re intrigued, I urge you to take the Saboteur Assessment (free!) to begin your journey toward mental fitness. I also provide coaching and PQ training for clients. If you’d like to learn more, drop me a note.