Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine

Why You Want to Read This - The Well Canto Newsletter April 12, 2024 Volume 9

Apr 12, 2024

Greenleaf Book Group Press, 2012

Enhance Well-Being, Improve Performance, Enrich Relationships

A sensical, well-organized program with an emphasis on consistent practice of the operating system, Positive Intelligence gets results. The author deliberately avoids anything “woo” in order to point up the science behind his well-researched program. Despite the corporate gestalt of the book, the application for performing artists is undeniably beneficial.

Becoming a PQ Mental Fitness Coach

I first read Shirzad Chamine’s Positive Intelligence about six months before I participated in the 7-week guided program for wellness coaches. A few weeks into the program, I knew I needed to share the clear, life-changing ideas outlined in this book and program. A year later, and already educated and certified through the Mayo Clinic Health and Wellness Coach program, and having successfully sat for the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches, I became a certified Positive Intelligence “PQ Mental Fitness Coach''.

Research Based

Based in Positive Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Science, Neuroplasticity, and Performance Science, the Positive Intelligence system is an easy to understand distillation of concepts with actionable steps to find more ease and flow in everyday life. Our minds are both our best friend AND our worst enemy. With awareness and practice we can shift from self-sabotage to self-empowerment, and greatly increase our effectiveness in multiple areas of our lives, as well as our general sense of well-being.

What is PQ?

PQ stands for Positive Intelligence Quotient. Just as we measure IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient), PQ measures the level of control we have over our mind and whether it acts in our best interest or the other way around. If we are in a positive state more often than a negative state, we have a higher PQ.

Research Stats from the Positive Intelligence Website:
90% Use Mental & Emotional Energy More Effectively.
76% Improve Ability to Develop Others
85% Increase Happiness.
91% Manage Stress Better
82% Improve Relationships.

Building Mental Fitness

PQ Reps is the method for how we strengthen our PQ Brain Muscles and Self-Command, which enables us to shift more easily and quickly to Sage Mode. Using our 5 senses, we shift our attention to our bodies and away from negative thoughts (Saboteurs). Just 10 seconds-at-a-time of PQ reps - for example, rubbing the fingertips together with such attention that you can feel the ridges, or listening for every sound in your environment, etc. - is how we form new neural pathways and permanently rewire our brains.

Why is this good for Singers and Creatives?

As soon as I took the Saboteur Assessment I felt a sense of clarity and relief. Positive Intelligence organizes our self-sabotaging tendencies into ten Saboteurs. These Saboteurs developed originally to protect us; to help us survive real or imagined threats in our childhood. But as we grow into adulthood and better grasp reality, we no longer need these ‘protectors’. Unfortunately, they have become ingrained and manifest as irrational reactions, or triggers.

Once we start to understand which Saboteurs tend to show up for us, we are less at their mercy. We then employ our Self-Command Muscles, which we’ve strengthened through PQ Reps, and shift to Sage Mode. There is no blame, no brokenness, no judgment. What a relief.

The Three Strategies to Raise our PQ
Intercept and Weaken the Saboteurs
Strengthen and Engage the Sage
Build the PQ Mental Fitness/Self Command Muscles

Saboteurs

With names like Judge, Victim, Controller, Pleaser, Stickler, Hyper-Vigilant, and others, we begin to see typical patterns of thought and reaction. The Master Saboteur is the Judge; we all judge ourselves, others, and circumstances. The Judge activates the Accomplice Saboteurs, causing us to operate in the Survival rather than Thriving part of the brain. Just by learning to shift from automatic judgment to more thoughtful discernment (as outlined in last week’s Well Canto Newsletter) we will immediately experience relief from negativity; negative thought patterns, negative outlook, and negative reactions.

Saboteur Assessment

Take the free assessment to identify your top 3 or 4 Saboteurs. Learn about them and, if you are able to be honest with yourself, you will likely recognize irrational thought patterns, or cognitive distortions. Then you will be several steps closer to living your life from your higher self, or what Positive Intelligence calls your Sage.

Sage and Sage Powers

The Saboteurs live in our Survive Brain, and the Sage - our true essence - lives in our Thrive Brain. Through consistent and concentrated practice we access the Sage Powers like empathy and exploration. When not constantly kept in judgment, confusion, doubt, and anxiety, etc, by our Saboteurs, we have access to our most creative, enthusiastic, and loving selves.

Results

This is just a thumbnail sketch of a few of the ideas and strategies of Positive Intelligence. Personally, I have found great relief from negative thought patterns, and feel more capable and engaged by practicing the principles laid out in this program: I more easily see things as they really are.

Coaching in the PQ Mental Fitness method enables my clients to experience clarity, optimism, and self-kindness, increasing ease and flow in their lives. I highly recommend this book, the website, and assessment to enhance your overall sense of well-being.

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