"I'll never be good enough" "I'm unlucky! "Do you recognise that little voice inside your head that sometimes overwhelms you with negative and destructive thoughts? These internal "saboteurs", which we all have, cause a lot of distress. They have a detrimental effect on our ability to live, work and interact with others. But there are ways of identifying and countering them. Such was the aim of this latest Cala Learning Hub webinar led by professional coaches Kristi Swenson Alcouffe and Elham Asdaghi.

3 "muscles" responsible for mental health

"Mental health is like physical health: it takes effort and practice over time," explains Elham Asdaghi. In theory, it's our ability to respond to life's challenges with a positive rather than negative state of mind. With the well-known consequences for our well-being and our relationships," she continues, "but also for our performance at work!"

"Research shows that three fundamental muscles are at the basis of mental health: the saboteur interceptor, the sage and self-command", says Kristi Swenson Alcouffe. So they need to be developed! The first muscle refers to the famous internal "saboteurs" that cause us stress, unhappiness or guilt. "There are ten of them, defined by the American psychologist and author Shirzad Chamine in 2012: the judge, the stickler, the victim, the avoider, the hyper-rational... We all have several of these avatars in us to varying degrees", explains Kristi, who strongly advises you to do the test yourself.

Step one: stop negative emotions

So, yes, negative emotions are sometimes useful, as a warning signal for example," explains Kristi. But dwelling on these negative emotions impairs our ability to have discernment and prevents us from reacting with empathy, curiosity or creativity". That's why, if you're feeling these emotions, you need to stop them.

Step two: anchor yourself in the present moment

You can train yourself in positive intelligence to counter and intercept these saboteurs. "In the same way that some people practise yoga or meditation, you can use the 'PQ Reps' technique to focus on your sensations and relax," advises Elham. This can last from 10 seconds to 10 minutes". This step actually calms the saboteurs and activates what is known as the "sage".

Step three: turn the problem into an opportunity

When we say "the sage", what exactly does that mean? It means activating the 5 sage powers: empathize, explore, innovate, navigate and activate. "You can operate in 'saboteurs' mode to achieve goals in your professional and personal life, but 'sage' mode helps you achieve better results and allows you to be happier," says Elham. In fact, this way of being and thinking conveys positive emotions such as curiosity, creativity and determination.

In other words, if we manage to operate in "sage" mode, every outcome or circumstance can be turned into a gift and opportunity. This doesn't mean that everything that happens is positive," warns Elham, "but rather that there is always something in the situation that can be transformed into something positive.

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See you at our next event in September 😊

Blog article written by par Laure Blancard