Okay, so I finally got around to reading “Positive Intelligence” by Shirzad Chamine. I’d heard about it for a while, and, honestly, I was a bit skeptical. It sounded a little too… fluffy. But, I’ve been trying to be more mindful and, you know, positive, so I figured I’d give it a shot.
Getting Started
First, I went online and grabbed the book. I opted for the ebook version because I’m trying to declutter my bookshelves. I also like that I can have it everywhere on my phone.
Then I took the free online Saboteur Assessment, the test that the book talks about. It’s the quiz that you get started with, in order to learn more about yourself.
Diving In
The book is broken down into pretty digestible chapters. It’s not overly technical, which I appreciated. Chamine lays out this whole concept of “Saboteurs” – basically, these negative thought patterns that mess with your head. He identifies ten of them, like the Judge, the Avoider, the Stickler, and so on.
My main Saboteurs turned out to be the Judge and the Pleaser. The Judge is that inner critic that is always finding fault with everything, and the Pleaser is that voice that makes me do what others want, instead of what I want. It was a bit of a “yikes” moment, not gonna lie. It hit pretty close to home.
Putting It Into Practice
The book isn’t just about identifying your Saboteurs, it’s about building up your “Sage” powers – your positive mental muscles. Chamine provides these “PQ reps” which are basically little exercises you do throughout the day.
So, I started trying them out. One of the main ones is to simply focus on your physical senses for 10 seconds. Like, really pay attention to the feeling of your feet on the floor, or the sound of your breathing, or whatever.
- I started by setting an alarm on my phone to remind me to do these PQ reps a few times a day.
- At first, it felt super awkward. Like, I was sitting at my desk, suddenly trying to intensely feel my fingers on the keyboard. My coworkers must have thought I was having a weird moment.
- But, I stuck with it. I even downloaded the app that goes along with the book. It has some guided exercises and a little community thing.
The Results (So Far)
Okay, so I’m not going to say I’m a completely transformed person. But I have noticed some shifts.
- I’m becoming more aware of my negative thoughts. Like, I can actually catch myself when the Judge starts going off, and I can choose to not engage with it.
- I found that doing the PQ reps before I sleep, really helped with my insomnia. I just focus on my breathing, and next thing I know, I’m asleep.
- I’m also finding it a little easier to say “no” to things, which is huge for me because of my “Pleaser” Saboteur. Baby steps, right?
It’s definitely a work in progress. It’s not a magic solution, but it’s a set of tools that I’m finding pretty helpful. If you’re looking for a way to be more mindful and manage your negative thoughts, it might be worth checking out. Just be prepared to feel a little silly doing those PQ reps at first!
