Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan: Train Your Brain to Silence Your Inner Saboteurs with Shirzad Chamine

In this enlightening episode of Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan, host Heather Monahan welcomes Shirzad Chamine, a New York Times bestselling author, Stanford University lecturer, and a pioneer in mental fitness. The episode delves deep into understanding and overcoming internal barriers known as "saboteurs" that hinder personal and professional growth. Through engaging discussions, personal anecdotes, and actionable strategies, Shirzad offers listeners a roadmap to rewire their brains for sustained positive change.

Shirzad Chamine’s Personal Journey

Shirzad begins by sharing his transformative personal story, highlighting how adversity fueled his passion for helping others overcome internal obstacles. Growing up in poverty and struggling with clinical depression for the first 30 years of his life, Shirzad faced significant challenges that eventually led to a pivotal moment in his career. After a devastating professional setback—being ousted from the CEO position of his venture-backed software company—he embarked on a quest to understand the internal forces that dictated his behavior. This journey of self-discovery and research culminated in his groundbreaking work on mental fitness and the identification of internal saboteurs.

Shirzad Chamine [00:00]: "If you're serious about sustained change, you do really need to rewire your brain and rewire your reflexes."

Understanding Saboteurs and Their Impact

Saboteurs are defined as automatic, negative thought patterns that undermine our well-being, performance, and relationships. Shirzad explains that these internal saboteurs are deeply ingrained neural pathways in the brain, formed as defensive mechanisms during childhood to cope with various stresses and challenges.

Shirzad Chamine [00:00]: "They have built neural pathways, which is the brain's muscle power. So the only way to truly change is we need to intercept these and then choose differently."

Strategies to Overcome Saboteurs

Shifting from Saboteur to Sage

Shirzad introduces the concept of the "Sage," the positive counterpart to the saboteur. The Sage represents our inner wisdom and positive potential. To shift from saboteur-driven reactions to Sage responses, Shirzad emphasizes the importance of intercepting negative patterns and consciously choosing alternative, positive actions.

Shirzad Chamine [00:00]: "You can't fight muscle with insight. You need to fight muscle with muscle."

10-Second Techniques (PQ Reps)

A cornerstone of Shirzad's methodology is the use of simple, 10-second exercises known as PQ Reps (Positive Intelligence Reps). These techniques help individuals quickly shift their brain activation from the negative saboteur region to the positive Sage region, facilitating immediate and lasting change.

Shirzad Chamine [27:35]: "If you're serious about rewiring your brain after doing the saboteur assessment, you may want to look at the app guided program that we offer."

Personal Examples of Saboteurs in Action

The Controller Saboteur: Shirzad’s Daughter

Shirzad shares a compelling example of his daughter, Tisa, who embodies the "Controller" saboteur. Originally a naturally driven and organized individual, her inclination to control became a saboteur under stress, leading to micromanagement and team resentment. Through her conscious efforts to engage her Sage through PQ Reps, Tisa transformed her leadership style from authoritarian to inspiring, fostering a more collaborative and innovative team environment.

Shirzad Chamine [20:00]: "Instead of sharing my idea and pushing my idea, I asked everybody what they were inspired to do... they were feeling their own peace in it."

The Avoider Saboteur: Shirzad’s Son

Similarly, Shirzad discusses his son, who represents the "Avoider" saboteur. Initially an easygoing and adaptable individual, overuse of these traits led to procrastination and conflict avoidance. By employing Shirzad's techniques, his son learned to recognize the onset of avoidance behaviors and take proactive steps, such as committing to just 10 seconds of action, which often leads to continued progress and resolution.

Shirzad Chamine [43:10]: "When you pivot to that, you're more likely to continue going and finish the task."

Neuroscience Behind Rewiring the Brain

Delving into the science, Shirzad explains that consistent practice of PQ Reps can physically rewire the brain. Studies have shown increased gray matter in positive brain regions and decreased gray matter in saboteur regions within eight weeks of dedicated practice. This neuroplasticity underscores the effectiveness of his methods in fostering long-term behavioral change.

Shirzad Chamine [00:00]: "In MRI imaging, you can literally visually see there is more gray matter in the positive region of the brain and there's less gray matter in the outer region of the brain."

Exploring Other Saboteurs and Their Strategies

The Pleaser Saboteur

The "Pleaser" saboteur stems from an innate empathy and kindness but can lead to overcommitment and neglect of personal needs. Shirzad advises distinguishing between genuine, joyful giving and reluctant pleasing driven by fear of rejection. Techniques include asking oneself, "What would please me?" to prioritize personal well-being.

Shirzad Chamine [29:22]: "For the pleaser, we call it ask the question. What would please me?"

The Victim Saboteur

Those with a "Victim" saboteur often feel uniquely disadvantaged and prone to self-pity. Shirzad encourages fostering unconditional self-love as a remedy, using techniques like visualizing a childhood picture to reconnect with one's inherent worth and reduce dependency on external validation.

Shirzad Chamine [50:09]: "The 10 second technique is give yourself a big loving hug... and love yourself in that moment."

Conclusion and Next Steps

Heather Monahan wraps up the episode by highlighting the profound impact Shirzad's work can have across various aspects of life, including personal relationships, professional endeavors, athletics, and education. She encourages listeners to take Shirzad's Saboteur Assessment available at positiveintelligence.com to identify their top saboteurs and engage with the guided app program for structured improvement.

Heather Monahan [54:26]: "Take the assessment. Everybody listening right now. I'm linking it in the show notes. It is worth five minutes of your time to start understanding yourself and have these 10 second solutions so that you can perform at a higher level and feel better."

Key Takeaways:

• Identify Your Saboteurs: Recognizing internal negative patterns is the first step toward overcoming them.
• Engage the Sage: Cultivating the positive inner self can counteract negative saboteur behaviors.
• Consistent Practice: Utilizing simple, actionable techniques like PQ Reps can lead to significant brain rewiring and sustained positive change.
• Personal Growth: Overcoming saboteurs enhances well-being, performance, and relationships across all areas of life.

Listeners are encouraged to explore Shirzad Chamine’s resources further by visiting positiveintelligence.com to embark on their journey toward greater confidence and fulfillment.